.. index:: GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
.. index:: .gif

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
===============================================================================

Extensions: .gif

Developer: `CompuServe <http://www.compuserve.com/>`_

Owner: `Unisys <https://www.unisys.com/>`_

**Support**


BSD-licensed: |yes|

Export: |no|

Officially Supported Versions: 

Reader: GIFReader (:bsd-reader:`Source Code <GIFReader.java>`, :doc:`Supported Metadata Fields </metadata/GIFReader>`)


Freely Available Software:

- `Animated GIF Reader plugin for ImageJ <https://imagej.net/ij/plugins/agr.html>`_ 
- `GIF Stack Writer plugin for ImageJ <https://imagej.net/ij/plugins/gif-stack-writer.html>`_


We currently have:

* a `GIF specification document <https://www.w3.org/Graphics/GIF/spec-gif89a.txt>`_ (Version 89a, from 1990, in HTML) 
* numerous GIF datasets 
* the ability to produce new datasets



**Ratings**


Pixels: |Very good|

Metadata: |Fair|

Openness: |Fair|

Presence: |Outstanding|

Utility: |Poor|



