Which extension is a lossless image format widely used on the web?

Which extension is a lossless image format widely used on the web?

• A. .gif
• B. .jpg
• C. .png
• D. .bmp

Answer: (C)

Lossless compression means the image can be restored exactly to its original pixels, which is ideal for graphics, logos, and images with sharp edges. PNG fits this well because it uses lossless compression and also supports transparency through an alpha channel, making it great for layered web graphics and overlays. Browsers widely support PNG, and its ability to keep clean edges and exact colors for non-photo images is why it’s so common on the web. GIF also uses lossless encoding but is limited to a maximum of 256 colors, which isn’t suitable for detailed images. JPEG uses lossy compression, which reduces file size at the cost of some quality—fine for photos but not preserved fidelity. BMP is uncompressed and typically results in very large files, not practical for web use. So PNG stands out as the widely used lossless web format.

Lossless compression means the image can be restored exactly to its original pixels, which is ideal for graphics, logos, and images with sharp edges. PNG fits this well because it uses lossless compression and also supports transparency through an alpha channel, making it great for layered web graphics and overlays. Browsers widely support PNG, and its ability to keep clean edges and exact colors for non-photo images is why it’s so common on the web.

GIF also uses lossless encoding but is limited to a maximum of 256 colors, which isn’t suitable for detailed images. JPEG uses lossy compression, which reduces file size at the cost of some quality—fine for photos but not preserved fidelity. BMP is uncompressed and typically results in very large files, not practical for web use. So PNG stands out as the widely used lossless web format.