SVG file (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Vector wrapper. Output embeds the image losslessly, it is not traced.
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Convert SVG to JPG, free and without uploading it.
What is an SVG file?
In short: An SVG file (.svg) is an image file in the SVG format. SVG describes shapes, paths and text as instructions rather than pixels, so it is drawn fresh at whatever size it is displayed. It can be converted to JPG, PNG or WEBP for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
A W3C standard published in 2001, built on XML.
SVG describes shapes, paths and text as instructions rather than pixels, so it is drawn fresh at whatever size it is displayed. A logo in SVG is equally sharp on a watch and a billboard, and the file is often smaller than a single small PNG of the same thing.
What SVG is good at
- Sharp at every size, on every screen density
- Tiny files for logos, icons and diagrams
- Editable as text, and stylable and animatable with CSS
Where SVG falls short
- Not suitable for photographs
- Complex illustrations can be slow to draw
- Being executable markup, it needs care when accepting uploads
When to use SVG
Use SVG for logos, icons, charts and diagrams: anything drawn rather than photographed.
How to open an SVG file
Every browser and every modern design tool.
| Windows | Opens in Edge and Chrome. Photos will not; Windows shows no thumbnail without a shell extension. |
|---|---|
| macOS | Preview and Safari both render SVG. |
| Linux | GIMP, Inkscape and every browser. Inkscape is the tool that actually edits it. |
| Phone | Opens in the browser on both platforms. |
| In a browser | Every browser renders SVG, and it stays sharp at any size. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
Converting a photograph to SVG does not turn it into vectors. It embeds the same pixels inside an SVG wrapper, which is larger than the original and no sharper.
Not sure the file really is an SVG? Identify it by its contents, whatever its extension says.
Questions
What is an SVG file?
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. Vector wrapper. Output embeds the image losslessly, it is not traced. Files use the .svg extension.
What does SVG stand for?
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics.
How do I open an SVG file?
On Windows: Opens in Edge and Chrome. Photos will not; Windows shows no thumbnail without a shell extension. On a Mac: Preview and Safari both render SVG. On a phone: Opens in the browser on both platforms. Or convert an SVG here to a format that opens everywhere, free and without uploading it.
Can I convert SVG for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is SVG lossless?
Yes. SVG stores every pixel exactly, at the cost of a larger file.