PNG Image — Lossless raster image format with alpha transparency, ideal for web graphics.
Quick facts
What is .png
A .png file is a PNG Image — Lossless raster image format with alpha transparency, ideal for web graphics.
In the mime-db registry it maps to image/png, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .png over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to image/png — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .png files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: image/png
Common software that reads/writes .png:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .png files
How to create .png files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include Photoshop, GIMP, Preview. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .png extension.
image/png is the media type identifier used for .png files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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