Modern Multi-Platform Favicon Specification Matrix
Official platform icon resolution and target device standards.
| File Identifier | Dimensions | Format | Operating Platform & Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| favicon-16x16.png | 16 × 16 | PNG | Legacy desktop browser tabs, URL bookmarks |
| favicon-32x32.png | 32 × 32 | PNG | Modern Retina/HiDPI browser tabs, taskbars |
| apple-touch-icon.png | 180 × 180 | PNG | iOS Safari "Add to Home Screen" web bookmark |
| android-chrome-192x192.png | 192 × 192 | PNG | Android Chrome home screen icon, PWA installation |
| android-chrome-512x512.png | 512 × 512 | PNG | PWA application splash screens, app store assets |
Favicon Best Practices
1. Transparent Backgrounds for Dark/Light Compatibility
Design source icons with transparent PNG or SVG backgrounds to ensure optimal contrast against both dark-mode and light-mode browser tab styling.
2. PWA WebManifest Integration
Modern mobile browsers rely on site.webmanifest rather than redundant header tags to display branded splash screens when websites are installed to mobile home screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I still need an old-fashioned .ico file?
Modern web browsers natively support PNG favicons specified in standard link tags. Standard PNG favicons offer superior alpha transparency and smaller file sizes compared to legacy multi-layer ICO containers.
Q. Are my branding assets uploaded to a cloud service?
Never. All image scaling, cropping, and ZIP bundle assembly happen entirely within your local browser memory via JavaScript.