.heif File — High Efficiency Image File Format

HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is a container format standardized in MPEG-H Part 12 (ISO/IEC 23008-12) that can hold images and image sequences compressed with various codecs. While HEIC specifically uses HEVC compression, HEIF is the broader container specification that can also use AV1 (resulting in AVIF files) or other codecs. HEIF was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and offers significantly better compression than JPEG while supporting features like multiple images per file, image derivations, non-destructive editing, auxiliary image items, and metadata. The format supports 10-bit and 12-bit color depths, wide color gamut (Display P3, BT.2020), and HDR content. HEIF can store image bursts, animations, live photos, depth maps, and thumbnails in a single file. The container is based on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF), the same foundation used by MP4 video files. HEIF's advanced features and superior compression make it suitable as a next-generation image format, though patent licensing considerations have influenced its adoption trajectory.