ARCHIVED: What is the GIF graphics file format?

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The Graphical Interchange Format (GIF) is one of the most widely used image formats on the web. GIF files are recognizable by their .gif file extension. GIF is suitable for images with sharp edges and relatively few gradations of color, such as line art, cartoons, and text. You can also create background transparencies and animations using GIF images.

For more about the GIF format, see Wikipedia's GIF page.