GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. It is a digital image file format developed by CompuServe in 1987, designed to store and display images on the internet, especially supporting short, looping animations by combining multiple frames into one file

. Key points about GIFs:

• They support animations without sound, making them popular for memes and social media reactions

• GIFs use a compression method called LZW, which reduces file size but limits the color palette to 256 colors, making them less suitable for detailed photographs

• There are two main versions: GIF 87a (original) and GIF 89a (introduced transparency and animation delays)

• GIFs are widely compatible across devices and browsers, making them easy to share and view online

The pronunciation of GIF varies; the inventor Steve Wilhite prefers "Jif," but "Gif" (with a hard G) is more commonly used today