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SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics File

What is a SVG file

SVG files are two-dimensional, XML based vector images. The SVG specifications are open standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). SVG allows interactivity and animation, allowing users to search, index, script, and compress images. Text editors can open, create, and edit SVG files due to them being XML files, though drawing software is the more common creator of this file type. Most web browsers allow some sort of SVG rendering support. SVG files are capable of lossless data compression. They allow raster and vector graphics as well as text. In 2001, with the update 1.1, SVG Mobile was introduced, enabling users of mobile devices to open and view SVG files.

SVG defines vector-based graphics for online use into an XML format. Zooming and resizing does not alter the quality of the image. All parts and sections of SVG files are capable of animation. The W3C standards (including DOM and XSL) come with the SVG files under recommendation by W3C. Unlike raster images, vector images like those under the SVG file extension are composed of fixed sets of shapes, allowing for clearer images upon zooming and scaling. SVG files are capable of rich graphics and have compatibility with CSS styling to allow high levels of presentation editing.

Here's a small, but not exhaustive list of programs that can open SVG documents:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Apple Preview
  • Corel Paint Shop Pro
  • Corel SVG Viewer