What is a favicon? (favicon meaning)

A favicon is a small square image associated with a website. Browsers use it in tabs, address bars, bookmarks, and on mobile home screens. It’s part of your site’s visual identity — think of it as your site’s tiny logo.

Introduction
A favicon (short for favorite icon) is the small image that appears in browser tabs, bookmark lists, history results, and mobile home screens. Although tiny, a well-designed favicon improves brand recognition, aids usability, and helps your site look polished across platforms. This guide covers favicon meaning, recommended favicon sizes, how to add it in HTML, how to generate and check favicons, and best practices — all optimized for Google and user experience.

Why favicons matter

• Brand recognition: Even at 16×16, a strong shape or color helps users spot your site.
• Trust & polish: A missing or default icon looks unfinished.
• Usability: Favicons help users find tabs and bookmarks quickly.
• Cross-platform presence: Proper icons improve how the site appears in Android/ iOS shortcuts and PWAs.

Favicon sizes — what you should create (favicon size)

Create multiple sizes to support different devices and uses:

• 16×16 px — browser tab (classic).
• 32×32 px — taskbar and high-DPI tabs.
• 48×48 px — desktop shortcuts, some browsers.
• 64×64 px — optional higher-res contexts.
• 96×96 px — some Android devices.
• 128×128 px — scalable contexts.
• 152×152 px — Apple touch icon fallback.
• 180×180 px — iOS home screen (recommended).
• 192×192 px — Android/Chrome (progressive web app recommended size).
• 256×256 px — Windows tiles or other uses.
• 512×512 px — PWA large icon and Play Store preview.

Tip: Export vector artwork (SVG) and raster versions of the key sizes (PNG). For legacy support, include an ICO file that bundles multiple sizes (16/32/48/256).

File formats: which to use (favicon image)

• ICO — best for broad browser compatibility (can contain multiple sizes).
• PNG — widely supported and lossless; use for modern browsers and app icons.
• SVG — scalable and crisp at any size; supported by many browsers for rel="icon", but include fallbacks because older browsers don’t support SVG favicons well.
• WEBP — sometimes used, but not recommended as the primary favicon because of inconsistent support.

How to generate a favicon (favicon generator / favicon maker)

There are many favicon generators (web tools and design apps) that:

• Convert a single image or SVG into multiple sizes and formats (ICO, PNG, SVG).
• Produce a ZIP with all recommended files and HTML snippet.
• Create site.webmanifest and Windows tile meta tags.

Best practice: Start from a simple vector logo or high-contrast mark, export square art, then feed that to a generator to produce the set. If you design by hand, ensure legibility at 16×16.

Accessibility tips

• Provide alt text where icons are used as images on pages (not for favicon link tags).
• Keep it simple: at tiny sizes, only the most distinctive element (initial, monogram, symbol) will be visible.
• Contrast: ensure shapes read clearly at 16×16.
• Canonical favicon: include a /favicon.ico fallback so even crawlers and old UAs find an icon.
• Page speed: keep each favicon file small (compressed PNGs, optimized ICO). Favicons are cached — use appropriate caching headers.
• Structured data: favicon isn’t required for schema, but a polished favicon supports brand appearance in SERPs and browser UI.

Example checklist before publishing

• Create vector source (SVG/AI).
• Export multiple sizes: 16, 32, 48, 180, 192, 256, 512.
• Generate an ICO that bundles at least 16/32/48.
• Add <link rel="icon"> tags and Apple/manifest entries.
• Upload files to site root or specified path.
• Test on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, iOS Safari, and Android Chrome.
• Verify caching headers and small file sizes.
• Use an online favicon checker (or manual checks) to confirm presence.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the ideal favicon size?
A: There’s no single “ideal” size — provide multiple sizes. Minimum is 16×16 for tabs; for modern devices include 180×180 (iOS) and 192/512 for Android/PWA.

Q: Do I need a favicon.ico?
A: It’s recommended as a fallback — browsers look for /favicon.ico automatically. Still include modern PNG/SVG links.

Q: Can I use SVG as a favicon?
A: Yes for modern browsers, but include PNG/ICO fallbacks for legacy support.

Q: Should favicon be in the site root?
A: Putting /favicon.ico in the root is a good fallback practice. Also include explicit <link> tags for full control.

Closing — quick summary

Favicons are small but important. Provide multiple sizes and formats (ICO, PNG, SVG), declare them in your HTML head, optimize for contrast and simplicity, and test across browsers and devices. Use a favicon generator for convenience, and run a favicon checker to confirm everything is working.