What is GIF?
A GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a bitmap image format that supports both animated and static images. Although GIFs became popular and widely used as memes in the 2010s, they were initially developed and released in 1987. Apart from social media memes, GIFs are also often used to display graphics or logos on the web.
It wouldn’t seem like it, but a GIF file is actually much larger than an MP4. GIFs are mostly used on the web and since they’re image files rather than video files, they aren’t compatible with popular players like VLC. To view a GIF, you can use programs like Adobe Photoshop or GIPHY.
What is WEBM?
WEBM is an open, royalty-free video file format designed as an alternative to HTML5 video and audio elements. As you can probably guess from the name, WEBM files are primarily intended for use on the web. It’s highly compatible with most modern web browsers — but not as compatible with as many devices as MP4 is.
WEBM is the ideal format for streaming videos online because it has high-quality playback even on devices with lower technical capabilities. The quality of a WEBM video isn’t as high as the quality of an MP4 video, though.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to convert GIF to WEBM online?
- Choose a GIF file from your computer or drag and drop it into Restream’s video converter.
- Select Convert and the converter will start processing.
- Download your WEBM file when it’s ready.
Will my file lose quality when I convert GIF to WEBM?
Depending on which file type you’re starting with, you might lose some quality when converting to WEBM, since it’s a lossy file format. Lossy files lose some data during compression, which can decrease the overall audio quality.
Is WEBM better than GIF?
WEBM can be a good alternative to GIF because it’s higher quality and has a smaller file size. With WEBM, you can also control video playback, unlike with GIF.