Why do gifs load slowly?

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Why do gifs load slowly?

GIFs or Graphic Interchange Format is one type of format in images that was first introduced by a company named CompuServe during the early 1987. The use of the GIF format is highly compatible with images having not more than 8 bits per pixel, virtually detecting up to 256 colors. Well suited simple images, GIF has the ability to support animations, without mixing the palettes indicated for every image used. Until this time, GIF is still widely used, especially in games, low resolution film clips and videos and even in logos and other art designs made in the web.

Over the years that GIF has been used as the basic format for most images, many people have enjoyed using it while others experience the worst in utilizing such format. One common complain regarding the use of GIF format is its slow response. Regardless of the speed of the internet connection, many people find images to be loading so slowly, particularly when the format being used is in GIF format. One reason why GIF images load slowly is primarily because of its poor resolution. Most GIF images cannot be detected by the new applications, which basically have advanced versions and resolutions. More so, the type of web browser being used can also affect the rate at which GIF images load. In most cases, the use of Internet Explorer slows down the loading speed of images and files in GIF format mainly because the browser is poorly responding.

In today’s modern era, there are other formats being used aside from the Graphic Interchange Format. However, regardless of this fact, many people still utilize such kind of format mainly for the reason that it has the ability to support simple data and files that are still useful today.

Author: plaza

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5 Responses

  1. Tim

    February 4, 2012 10:35 am

    The following extract from your blog made no sense:

    ” Regardless of the speed of the internet connection, many people find images to be loading so slowly, particularly when the format being used is in GIF format. One reason why GIF images load slowly is primarily because of its poor resolution. Most GIF images cannot be detected by the new applications, which basically have advanced versions and resolutions. More so, the type of web browser being used can also affect the rate at which GIF images load. In most cases, the use of Internet Explorer slows down the loading speed of images and files in GIF format mainly because the browser is poorly responding. ”

    I will quote this:

    “Most GIF images cannot be detected by the new applications”

    Can you please tell me “which applications” aren’t “detecting my gifs”?

    Derp.

    Reply
  2. Herp

    July 1, 2012 5:35 am

    I wish someone in this blog would address Derp’s question, the whole community is bogging down because of this gif issue. Enough is enough!

    Herp.

    Reply
  3. Chris

    December 16, 2013 10:49 pm

    I can’t say for sure, but this article seems like the whole thing is just a theory the writer made up on their own. I don’t think there’s any truth to the reasons stated here. From what I’ve read, and take it for whatever it’s worth, the reason for gifs taking longer than videos is that you can start watching a video as it streams before the whole thing has to download, where the gif by comparison has to completely load the entire amount of it’s contents before it plays. To me it still seems like it takes longer than it should, but it’s a better logical explanation than it’s resolution is too poor or the browsers aren’t suited to play them. At this point, with the popularity of gifs, it seems odd that browsers aren’t designed to properly play them. I could be wrong. I have fixed computers for a living before, but I’m no expert.

    Reply

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