Why SVG is best for a website?

Graphics are the soul of a website. HTML and CSS are the core languages that’s used to design a website with the support of JPG, PNG and GIF files. JPG, .JPEG, .PNG is used raster technology, which are made of square pixels. This means, larger the image, the more pixels it uses, which causes the huge file size and the bigger file-size mean a bigger concern for a web designer/developer. We don’t want our visitors waiting too long for images to load, mainly on mobile devices. Not only that, pixels-based graphics also don’t scale very well, which is another big concern for .JPG and .PNG file.

JPG format offer better image compression, whereas PNG format offer transparent backgrounds. So if you need the image with transparent background, then PNG is definitely the way forward; otherwise, JPG. But, it is not the best format to use in that instance.

To solve all this problem with the future ready concept SVG come into existence. SVG is the combination of standards-based cross-platform markup with modern web technologies to give designers, developers and animators abilities they never dared dream of.

So, what is SVG?

Scalable Vector Graphics abbreviation SVG, is an XML-based vector image format. It is made of geometrical drawing instructions, such as shapes, paths, lines, etc., which are independent from pixel size.

SVG did not use raster technology, its use vector graphics technology. Vector graphics are a combination of lines created using math where raster files use pixels or tiny squares of color. This is one reason that SVG is resolution-independent and perfect for responsive websites that must scale along with a device's screen size.

One of the biggest advantages of SVG upon JPG and PNG is the SVG graphics can be controlled by JavaScript and CSS. You can change shape, size and color at any condition. You can also code simple SVG graphics by yourself or use a JavaScript library like Snap.svg to draw your vector graphics.

Generally, SVG make web graphics quite simple and lightweight. Things like logos, maps, icons can be simple SVG images, which are small in file size compared to their raster counterparts.

So, what are the advantages of SVG we got over JPG and PNG?

Scalable Vector Technology - You can zoom as much as you want, it never looks pixelated like JPG or PNG.
Versatility - Thought it just an XML code, but it can be used with <img> tag and as a background of elements using CSS and JavaScript.
Easily Edited - SVG can be edited using a high end graphics editor or using a simple text editor.
Animate using CSS and JavaScript - Using modern CSS and JavaScript, you can change the behavior of SVG and their individual components. In fact, manipulating SVGs with CSS transforms an impressive animation can be created.
Performance - SVG carries far less information than an equivalent bitmap which automatically improves performance and reduce its file size by 30 to 60 percent or more, without changing its appearance.

Conclusion

As the SVG has been around since the late 1990s, but it has been used in very few places. Due to the increasing demand of graphics in modern web, SVG become the right solution for faster and smoother performance. Have you start using SVG for your website? Please let us know in the comment box. Thank you!

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Why SVG is best for a website?