AVIF

AV1 Image File Format (AVIF)
Filename extension	.avif, avifs
Internet media type	image/avif, image/avif-sequence
Developed by	Alliance for Open Media
Initial release	v1.0.0 19 February 2019
Latest release	v1.2.0 16 October 2025
Type of format	Image format Lossless/lossy compression algorithm
Contained by	HEIF
Extended from	HEIF, ISOBMFF, AV1
Open format?	Yes
Website	aomediacodec.github.io/av1-avif/

AV1 Image File Format (AVIF extension/container) is an open, royalty-free file format specification for storing images or image sequences compressed with AV1.

An AVIF file is designed to be a conformant HEIF file for both image items and image sequences. Specifically, this specification follows the recommendations given in "Annex I: Guidelines On Defining New Image Formats and Brands" of HEIF.

This specification reuses syntax and semantics used in the specification for the AV1 Codec ISO Media File Format Binding.

In tests by Netflix in 2020, AVIF showed better compression efficiency than JPEG, as well as better detail preservation, fewer blocking artifacts and less color bleeding around hard edges in composites of natural images, text, and graphics.

AVIF has been supported by all major web browsers since 2024, with at that moment over 93% of users worldwide on compatible browsers.

Features

The AV1 Image File Format supports:

• Multiple color spaces, including:
  • HDR (with PQ or HLG transfer functions and BT.2020 color primaries, as part of BT.2100)
    • Supports HDR gain map approach, backwards compatible with SDR displays, but no encoder is currently available.
  • SDR (with sRGB / BT.709 / BT.601 or with wide color gamut)
  • Color space signaling via CICP (ITU-T H.273 and ISO/IEC 23091-2) or ICC profiles
• Both lossless and lossy compression
• 8-, 10-, and 12-bit color depths
• Monochrome (alpha/depth) or multi-components
• 4:2:0, 4:2:2, 4:4:4 chroma subsampling and RGB
• Film grain synthesis
• Image sequences and animation
• Alpha transparency

Profiles

AVIF specification defines two image profiles:

• AVIF Baseline Profile
  • Uses AV1 Main Profile
  • AV1 level is 5.1 or lower
    • Level 5.1 is chosen for the Baseline profile to ensure that no single coded image exceeds 8K resolution, as some decoders may not be able to handle larger images. More precisely, coded image items compliant to the AVIF Baseline profile may not have a total number of pixels greater than 8,912,896, a width greater than 8,192, or a height greater than 4,352. It is still possible to use the Baseline profile to create larger images using grid derivation.
• AVIF Advanced Profile
  • Uses AV1 High Profile
  • AV1 level is 6.0 or lower
    • Coded image items compliant to the AVIF Advanced profile may not have a total number of pixels greater than 35,651,584, a width greater than 16,384, or a height greater than 8,704. It is still possible to use the Advanced profile to create larger images using grid derivation.

Support

On 14 December 2018, Netflix published the first .avif sample images. In November 2020, HDR sample images with PQ transfer function and BT.2020 color primaries were published.

libavif
Screenshot of avifenc (encoder) command-line tool
Developer	Alliance for Open Media
Stable release	1.3.0 / July 9, 2025; 15 months ago (2025-07-09)
Written in	C assembly
Operating system	cross-platform
License	BSD 2-Clause License (free software)
Website	aomediacodec.github.io/av1-avif/
Repository	https://github.com/AOMediaCodec/libavif

References

External links

• AVIF specifications - Alliance for Open Media
• AVIF sample files - sample AVIF files with compression comparisons at AVIF Tools
• About AVIF - technical guide and reference at AVIF Tools