What is a favicon image ?

hi,

I wanna ask what is favicon image in the internet world ? where is it used ? Anybody having any information or ideas about the same.... kindly help

thanks a lot....

favicon image - A favicon is a small image placed in the web site root directory. It is 16x16 pixels in dimensions (a very small image) and usually acts as a web site identifier if it contains the logo, a part of the logo or the web site colors. It has its own extension, .ico and is named favicon.ico.

The favicon image is stored along the web site URL in the Favorites or Bookmarks folder. The latest versions of Netscape (7.0) and Mozilla web browsers also display the favicon in front of the URL in the location field and on Tabs.

http://gallery.techarena.in/data/516...in_mozilla.gif

If you are using the correct browser version, you would be able to see a favicon of the logo; quite like this image - http://gallery.techarena.in/data/516/favicon_image.gif

Where it is used - A Favicon is stored along with the web site URL when a visitor adds it to the Favorites or Bookmarks folder. It is also displayed before of the URL at the Location Bar in the latest versions of Mozilla and Netscape browsers. These browsers also show the favicon in the Tab that displays the web page.

Favicon is derived from the phrase - favorite icon

A favicon (short for favorite icon) also known as a website icon, shortcut icon, url icon, or bookmark icon is a 16x16 pixel square icon associated with a particular website or webpage.

A web designer can create such an icon and install it into a website (or webpage) by several means, and most graphical web browsers will then make use of it.

Browsers that provide favicon support typically display a page's favicon in the browser's Address bar and next to the page's name in a list of bookmarks.

Browsers that support a tabbed document interface typically show a page's favicon next to the page's title.

The Microsoft Windows Shell also uses favicons to represent "Internet shortcuts" to web pages.