# File format decision tree

This is a small decision tree to help with the best file format for each occasion. It is **half serious and half tongue-in-cheek**, and it minimizes the importance of SVG, but it's a good approach on how the decision should be:

![Flow chart with different questions and decisions to determine which file format you should use (simplified explanation below)](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1639764121832/tGU-wX8VM.png)

Only use BMP when playing with MS Paint

Here is a description of when to use each format (as promised in the alt text):

*   **BMP**: when your kids are playing with MS Paint.
*   **TIFF**: for large professional designs and photographs.
*   **GIF**: if it moves.
*   **SVG**: if it moves and/or if it is vectorial.
*   **AVIF**: if having a small file size is key.
*   **WEBP**: if having a small file size is key... and you care about support.
*   **PNG**: any other case when transparency is needed.
*   **JPG**: any other case.

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And here it is the same decision tree, edited (with MSPaint maybe?) to show how the file format process goes in reality:

![Same flowchart as above, but all the formats are scratched except for GIF, JPG, and PNG. There's a line from BMP to JPG/PNG saying "I love you MSPaint, but who am I kidding?". The question "does it move?" was replaced by "is it a cat video?" and all the paths except that one direct to PNG/JPG](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1639764123920/4v07fMIrW.png)

...or just use PNG for everything...

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On a more serious note, AVIF looks like a promising format. Here, an [interesting article where Jake Archibald compared AVIF with other formats: SVG, PNG, JPG, and WEBP](https://jakearchibald.com/2020/avif-has-landed/).