A favicon is a small icon or image that appears next to the website’s title in the browser’s tab or bookmark list. It is also known as a shortcut icon, website icon, or tab icon. The favicon is typically a small square image, usually 16×16 or 32×32 pixels in size.
Having a favicon is not essential for a website, but it can help improve the user experience and brand recognition. A favicon can make your website more recognizable and professional, and it can also help users easily identify your website when they have multiple tabs open in their browser.
Format and Size
The format and size of a favicon can vary depending on the browser and device being used, but there are some recommended guidelines that you can follow to ensure that your favicon works well across different platforms.
The most commonly used formats for favicons are ICO, PNG, and GIF. The ICO format is the traditional format used for favicons, but PNG and GIF formats are also widely supported and can be used as an alternative.
The recommended size for a favicon is 32×32 pixels or 16×16 pixels. Some browsers also support larger sizes, such as 48×48 pixels or 64×64 pixels, but using a larger size can result in the favicon appearing pixelated or distorted on some devices.
Add to website
To add a favicon to your website, you need to create an image in the required size and format (usually .ico, .png, or .gif) and add a link to the image in the head section of your website’s HTML code.
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="favicon.png" sizes="32x32">
Apple Touch Icon
In addition to the standard favicon, it’s also recommended to create a high-resolution version of your favicon, known as an Apple Touch icon, for use on iOS devices. The recommended size for an Apple Touch icon is 180×180 pixels, and it should be saved in PNG format with a transparent background. The file should be named “apple-touch-icon.png” and placed in the root directory of your website. The link should be placed in the head section too.
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">