What is a favicon? How does it create and work on the website?

What is a favicon?

A favicon (short for "favorite icon") is a small icon that appears next to a website's title in the web browser. Favicons are most commonly seen on tabs at the top of a web browser, but they can also be found on your browser's bookmark bar, history, and search results, alongside the page URL. It is also known as a website icon, shortcut icon, or bookmark icon.

As an example: Favicons will appear on the homepage of your browser, such as Google Chrome. In other words, when you create a favicon, it serves as your website's icon or visual identifier, allowing users to find your website while browsing the web.

Where favicon is used on the website?

• Search Results?
• Bookmark/Favorites Bar:
• Browser Address Bar:
• Browser History:
• RSS Feeds

Why are favicons important on a website?

• Branding: By displaying a small, recognizable icon in the browser tab or bookmark bar, favicons can help to reinforce a website's branding. This can make it easier for users to recognize and remember the website, which is especially important for businesses and organizations.
• User Experience: By making it easier for users to identify and switch between multiple open tabs in their browsers, favicons can improve the user experience. A well-designed favicon can also add visual interest to the tab, making the browsing experience more enjoyable.
• Professionalism: A website without a favicon may appear unprofessional and may be taken less seriously by users. A website with a well-designed favicon, on the other hand, can convey professionalism and attention to detail.
• Accessibility: For users with visual impairments or who use screen readers, a favicon can provide an additional way to identify a website. This can be especially important for users who may have difficulty reading small text or distinguishing between multiple open tabs.
• Credibility: While favicons have no impact on how secure your site is, anecdotally, users seem to trust sites with a favicon. That’s because they signal to users that they’re clearly on your site,—regardless of whether they found you through a branded or non-branded search.?
• Return users: Favicons are a powerful brand identifier, making it easy for your site to stand out, either in search result pages or a user's browser history. Because of this, a recognizable favicon helps users return to your site more frequently. Additionally, when users bookmark your site, a favicon will make it easier to find amongst their collection of other saved ones.?

What the challenges to make a favicon?

• Own Branding
• Limited design size and Resolution
• Compatibility
• CyberSecurity
• Website loading time and speed
• Accessibility
• Compatibility issues

What are the sizes of Favicon??

• Browser favicon: 16x16 pixels
• Taskbar shortcut favicon 32x32 pixels
• Desktop shortcut favicon: 96x96 pixels
• Apple touch favicon: 180x180 pixels

What favicon file formats are allowed on websites?

Several file formats are commonly used for favicons on websites. Here are some of the most popular formats:

• ICO: This is the original and most widely supported favicon format, designed specifically for Windows systems. ICO files can contain multiple image sizes and resolutions to ensure compatibility across different devices and browsers.
• PNG: PNG is a popular image format that supports transparency and can be used as a favicon on many modern browsers. PNG favicons can be created in a variety of sizes and resolutions to ensure compatibility across different devices.
• GIF: GIF images can also be used as favicons, but they are less commonly used due to their limited color palette and lower resolution. Animated GIFs can be used as favicons to create a more dynamic user experience.
• SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) can be used as a favicon on some modern browsers, but support for this format is still limited. SVG favicons can be resized without losing image quality and can be animated, making them a popular choice for more advanced web designs.
• WebP: WebP is a relatively new image format that is gaining popularity on the web due to its high compression rates and smaller file sizes. WebP favicons can be used on some modern browsers, but support is still limited compared to other formats.

What are the Tips for designing a favicon?

• Keep it Simplicity
• Use recognizable imagery?
• Keep it logo for Brand identity
• Consider the shape and Little to no text
• Use a limited color palette
• Optimize for file size:?
• Test it in different contexts

How to add a favicon in HTML Website:

Add the following code to the <head> section of your HTML document, between the <head> and </head> tags:

<head>

? <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="path/to/favicon.png">

</head>

I constantly challenge myself to solve website bugs, errors, and security problems through Coding, Development, and Design, and love to make exclusive looks websites. I know very well how to create creative, responsive, remarkable, and modern-looking websites for business or personal use.

If you are looking for a web professional at an affordable price with good quality work delivered, look no further. Want to see my portfolio, feedback, and projects, and please do not hesitate to reach out to me, click here.