Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a file format by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for web page graphics based on vectors, rather than bitmap formats. In other words SVG is an XML language for describing two-dimensional graphics both static and animated, and either declarative or scripted. .svg files will normally be smaller than bitmap files and will scale to different size screens.
SVG allows three types of graphic objects:

1. Vector graphic shapes (e.g. paths consisting of straight lines and curves)
2. graphic images / digital images
3. Text

Benefits of SVG include:

1. Smaller files size than regular bitmapped graphics such as GIF and JPEG files
2. Resolution independence, which means the image can be scaled down or up to fit proportionally into any size display on any type of device
3. Easily searchable text labels and descriptions for search engines
4. Ability to link to parts of an image
5. Complex animation

Posted on March 12th, 2007 by Nete-Quette
Filed under: General, Support Topics