.heic File — High Efficiency Image Container

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a modern image format based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard, using HEVC (H.265) video codec technology for still image compression. Apple adopted HEIC as the default photo format for iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in 2017, making it one of the most commonly produced image formats worldwide. HEIC files are typically 40-50% smaller than equivalent JPEG images at the same visual quality, significantly reducing storage requirements on devices and cloud services. The format supports 16-bit color depth, multiple images in a single file (for burst photos and live photos), depth maps, alpha transparency, and non-destructive editing operations stored as metadata. HEIC also supports image sequences and can store auxiliary images like thumbnail, alpha plane, and depth map. While HEIC offers superior compression and features compared to JPEG, its adoption has been complicated by HEVC patent licensing requirements, limiting native support in some browsers and operating systems. Windows requires the HEVC Video Extensions codec from the Microsoft Store.