SVG vs PNG: Vector vs Raster Comparison
SVG and PNG are both widely used in web development but serve fundamentally different purposes.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | SVG | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Vector (XML-based) | Raster (pixel-based) |
| Scalability | Infinite, no quality loss | Fixed resolution |
| File Size (icons) | Usually smaller (1-5KB) | Larger (5-20KB) |
| File Size (photos) | Very large, impractical | Moderate |
| CSS Styling | Full CSS control when inlined | None |
| Animation | CSS/JS animation support | None (use APNG/GIF) |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
SVG Pros
- +Scales to any size
- +Tiny file sizes for simple graphics
- +CSS/JS manipulation
- +Text remains searchable
SVG Cons
- -Not suitable for photographs
- -Complex SVGs can be large
- -Rendering varies slightly across browsers
PNG Pros
- +Universal support
- +Great for photos/screenshots
- +Consistent rendering
- +Full transparency
PNG Cons
- -Fixed resolution
- -Larger files for simple graphics
- -No interactivity
When to Use SVG
Use SVG for logos, icons, illustrations, charts, and any graphic that needs to scale or be interactive.
When to Use PNG
Use PNG for photographs, complex artwork, screenshots, and images where pixel-perfect consistency matters.