What is a Favicon?
A favicon (short for "favorite icon") is a small, iconic image that represents a website. It appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, history lists, and other places where your website is referenced.
Modern websites use multiple favicon sizes to ensure optimal display across different devices and platforms:
- Standard favicons (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 64×64 pixels) - For browser tabs and bookmarks
- Apple Touch Icon (180×180 pixels) - For iOS devices when users add your site to their home screen
- Android Chrome Icons (192×192, 512×512 pixels) - For Android devices when users add your site to their home screen
Having properly sized favicons improves your website's professional appearance and enhances user experience across all devices.
Why Favicons Matter
Favicons might seem like a small detail, but they provide several important benefits:
- Brand Recognition - Helps users quickly identify your site among multiple open tabs
- Professionalism - Websites without favicons can appear unfinished or unprofessional
- User Experience - Makes your site more recognizable in bookmarks and history
- Mobile Experience - Provides attractive icons when users add your site to their home screen
A well-designed favicon should be simple, recognizable, and consistent with your brand. It should remain identifiable even at the smallest sizes (16×16 pixels).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best image format for favicons?
PNG is the best format for favicons as it supports transparency. For the best results, use a square PNG image with a transparent background.
Do I need all these different favicon sizes?
While not strictly required, having multiple sizes ensures your favicon displays correctly across different devices and platforms. Standard sizes (16×16, 32×32) are essential for browsers, while larger sizes are important for mobile devices.
Where should I place favicon files on my website?
Favicon files should typically be placed in the root directory of your website. This makes them easily accessible at paths like "/favicon.ico" or "/apple-touch-icon.png".
What is a web manifest file?
A web manifest file (site.webmanifest) is a JSON file that provides information about your web application, including icons for when users add your site to their home screen. It's an important part of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
Why is my favicon not showing up?
If your favicon isn't displaying, check that: 1) You've added the correct HTML code to your site's <head> section, 2) The favicon files are in the correct location, 3) You've cleared your browser cache, and 4) Your server is correctly serving the favicon files.