FileHint

image/svg+xml

The MIME type for SVG images. Vector art that scales without pixelation on any display.

Typical extensions

Primary uses

  • Logos and icons on the web
  • UI primitives whose colour or shape is driven by CSS/JS
  • Downloadable vector assets

In a browser

Renders through `<img>`, `<object>`, or inline `<svg>`. External CSS cannot style SVG loaded via `<img>`.

On a server

SVG is XML, so gzip compression pays off. Pair `Content-Type: image/svg+xml` with `Content-Encoding: gzip` for a large transfer win.

In email

Many mail clients still do not render inline SVG — rasterise icons to PNG for safe delivery.

References