When is HEIC better than JFIF?
HEIC images are smaller, high-quality, support animations and transparency, necessitate minimum storage space, and consume fewer bytes, while JFIF images are larger, don't support animations and transparency, consume more bytes, and demand more storage space than HEIC images. This makes the HEIC file format useful for editing and storing online video clips due to its smaller, high-quality images that upload and download faster over low-bandwidth networks.
When is JFIF better than HEIC?
JFIF images are high-quality and widely supported by most programs and web browsers, while HEIC images are detailed, smaller, and high-quality but have limited browser and program support. The JFIF file type curtails error risks and inconsistencies when exchanging files or image data across several transfer mediums, including platforms, computing devices, and systems.
JFIF versus HEIC Table Comparison
| Element | JFIF | HEIC |
| Transparency | Does not support transparency. | Supports alpha channel transparency. |
| File Size | Larger files than HEIC files | Smaller files than JFIF files. |
| Image Quality | High-quality images. | High-quality images than JFIF. |
| Performance | Less web-responsive than HEIC. | Highly web-responsive than JFIF. |
| Structure | Raster graphic: Has JFIF marker data characters and a JFIF-compliant file. | Raster graphic: Has tags and comments, image tracks, EXIF/TIF files, and indicators. |
| Animation | Does not support animation | Supports animations. |
| Storage | Storage inefficient compared to HEIC. | Storage efficient compared to JFIF. |
| Compression | Supports, lossy, Pack-Bits/ZIP, lossless compressions. | Supports lossless and lossy compressions. |
| Browser Support | Wider web browser support than HEIC. | Limited web-browser support than JFIF. |
Differences and similarities between HEIC and JFIF images
The HEIC versus JFIF comparison table shows that both formats support lossy and lossless compression. However, HEIC and JFIF are dissimilar in image quality, file sizes, storage needs, structure, performance, browser support, Pack-Bits/ZIP compression, animation, and transparency support.
Transparency
JFIF files do not support transparency, while the HEIC extension supports alpha channel transparency as PNG files do. The method permits logos and graphics to merge soundly with the main webpage backgrounds. Its built-in capabilities support free alpha masks and flat transparency information.
On the other hand, while JFIF hardly supports transparency, its structure is transparent. JFIF layout coding may depend on the algorithms and tools needed to read its transparent file structure. That is, its transparent images require sophisticated tools or software to build. Hence, users prefer HEIC over JFIF for transparency or alpha channel support.
File Size
HEIC files are smaller than JFIF files, which have a standardized structure that can hold up to 4GB because of the extra markers. HEIC stores rich multilayer metadata and data in a single file, unlike the single-layered JFIFs. However, file sizes are hardly limited to image content, but the compression technique used.
HEIC supports Highly Efficient Video Codec (HEVC) compression, resulting in smaller files than the lossless, Pack-Bits, or lossy JFIF files, which support Run Length Encoding, Huffman Coding, and Discrete Transform Cosine Coefficients algorithms. Choose HEIC for smaller files than the larger JFIFs.
Image Quality
HEIC and JFIF are high-quality image formats. JFIF supports 24-bit images, while HEIC supports 10-bit and 16-bit color profiles rendered as 48-bit per color channel. HEIC supports progressive image features like Wide Color Range and High Dynamic Range, giving its images an edge in quality over JFIF images.
JFIF supports Grayscale, RGB, and CMYK. While both formats support high-quality images, lossy compression degrades HEIC and JFIF image quality. Yet, HEVC algorithms are more efficient than Huffman Coding, Run Length Encoding, and Discrete Cosine Transform Coefficients that JFIF uses.
As a result, JFIF images are prone to more compression artifacts, which lower image quality than HEIC images. Lossy HEIC only deletes duplicate file data but aims to preserve vital details compared to JFIFs. Hence, for a higher bit depth, sharpness, crispness, and excellent image quality, choose HEIC over JFIF.
Performance
HEIC files are highly web-responsive compared to JFIF files. HEIC uses highly efficient video codec algorithms, significantly reducing its file sizes compared to JFIF files. It also supports the inefficient compression method with RLE, Huffman Coding, and DCT.
HEIC files optimize search engines, consume fewer bytes, load faster on websites, and boost online user experience than larger JFIF files. Therefore, website developers and graphic designers prefer HEIC to JFIF for high web performance.
Structure
JFIF and HEIC formats are raster-based, with different structural designs that are appealing to compare. A JFIF file has an APP0 marker, SOI with marker code values FFh E0h, and marker data. Its marker section has extra but optional JFIF extension marker segments and real image information.
Each JFIF marker has the FF and a marker-specific byte type. Separate markers signify the start of every marker's subdivision. JFIF allows multiple modules, including Y, Cb, and Cr, to have varying resolutions, although their arrangement remains undefined.
The HEIC file stores specific images, image series, and metadata. It has Exif metadata with tags and comments supported by EXIF and TIFF. The embedded TIFF files in the HEIC file hardly have image data; instead, they store individual image files and mark them as "items," with each file having a designated number of items.
The HEIC format also allows image sequences called "tracks" to be saved and stored in EXIF/TIF files. HEIC file extension uses an indicator to specify how the HEIC viewer should display the files in the future, either as colonnades or animations.
Animation
JFIF files do not support animations or live images, while HEIC files support still animations or image sequences. HEIC stores multiple images and metadata in one file, allowing the creation of simple animations. It stores image series, which can be played as video clips, animated content, or memes.
The JFIF file extension does not support multiple frames and pixels, which makes it difficult to create short animations or animated content. As such, users should choose HEIC instead of JFIF for animations, live photos, or animated images or content.
Storage
HEIC stores image data and metadata compressed using HEVC, while JFIF stores data streams compressed using Huffman Coding, RLE, and DCT algorithms and uncompressed raster thumbnail image information. JFIF’s compression is inefficient compared to HEVC, resulting in larger files that require more storage space.
The compressed HEIC and JFIF files can be stored indefinitely, subject to storage conditions, mediums, and handling processes. Both file types store their files on Hard Drives, Cloud, Content Delivery Networks, EXIF/TIFF File Systems, and ISO Base Media Files.
Compression
JFIF uses lossy compression via JPEG algorithms, resulting in possible artifacts, and employs DCT and Huffman coding to reduce file sizes. HEIC supports lossy and lossless compression using HEVC, efficiently reducing file sizes while maintaining high quality. Lossless HEIC files are smaller and retain all image details, offering superior compression compared to JPEG in JFIF.
Browser Support
While HEIC is a modernized file type compared to JFIF, it has limited web browser support compared to JFIF. HEIC files are compatible and supported by Google Marketplace, Google Workplace, and Safari but are incompatible with Opera, IE, Vivaldi, Samsung Internet, Discord, Brave, Firefox, and Edge.
On the other hand, JFIF images are widely supported by Samsung Internet, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Edge. However, it is unsupported by Discord, Vivaldi, and Brave, which require additional plug-ins or extensions to be installed to support JFIF images and files.
Convert HEIC to JFIF or JFIF to HEIC
Convert HEIC to JFIF easily using Convertjack. JFIF files are larger, high-quality, and supported by most web browsers platforms, software, and applications, enabling users to embed image information such as time taken and camera settings.
Use Convertjack, a reliable JFIF to HEIC converter. HEIC format supports HEVC compression algorithms, resulting in smaller, high-quality images with minimal storage space demands, comprehensive image metadata, and high web performance.