Favicon
What is a favicon?
A favicon is the small icon that appears in the browser tab next to a website’s title. It helps users identify a site quickly among multiple open tabs or bookmarks. Favicons are usually saved in .ico or .png format and placed in the website’s root directory or HTML head.
Example: YouTube uses a red play button, Facebook uses a white “f” on blue, and Google shows a multicolored “G” in the browser tab—all are favicons.
Why is a favicon important for a website?
A favicon adds polish, professionalism, and functionality to your website. Here's why it matters:
- Improves user experience: Favicons help users quickly spot your website when multiple tabs are open.
- Strengthens brand identity: A custom favicon reinforces your brand visually across tabs, bookmarks, and devices.
- Builds trust: Sites without favicons may look unfinished or less credible to users.
- Supports cross-device recognition: Favicons appear when users add your site to a home screen, giving it an app-like presence on mobile.
Where does a favicon appear?
Favicons are displayed in several key areas:
- Browser tabs: Your favicon shows next to the page title, helping users identify your site.
- Bookmarks and favorites bar: Saved websites display their favicon next to the page title.
- Browser history: Some browsers show the favicon alongside each visited link.
- Mobile search results: On Google’s mobile SERPs, favicons appear next to your domain name, influencing click behavior.
- Mobile home screen: When users add your site to their device home screen, the favicon becomes the icon.
- Example: Gmail’s red “M” favicon, or Netflix’s bold “N”, are instantly recognizable in any context.
What are the standard favicon formats?
The standard favicon formats are .ico, .png, and .svg. Each format serves different needs: .ico is essential for compatibility with older browsers, .png offers modern quality and transparency, and .svg delivers scalability for responsive design.
Choosing the right format ensures optimal browser support and visual performance.
Here are standard favicon formats explained:
1. .ico Format — Maximum Compatibility
- Required for legacy browsers like Internet Explorer
- Supports multiple sizes in one file (e.g., 16x16, 32x32, 48x48)
- Best for cross-platform consistency, especially on Windows
2. .png Format — High-Quality Raster Format
- Delivers sharp visuals and transparency support
- Ideal for modern browsers and retina displays
- Lightweight and widely supported, but lacks multiple-size support in one file
3. .svg Format — Scalable Vector Format
- Resolution-independent and scalable to any size
- Perfect for responsive layouts and high-DPI screens
- Limited support in older versions of Internet Explorer and Safari
What are the ideal favicon dimensions?
Modern websites should provide favicons in multiple sizes to meet the needs of different devices and screen types. Here are common size recommendations:
- 16x16 – For browser tabs and the most basic use case
- 32x32 – For desktop browser support
- 48x48 – For Windows shortcut icons
- 180x180 – For Apple touch icons
- 192x192 and 512x512 – For Android home screen icons
- Any size in SVG – For Safari pinned tabs and scalable interfaces
Pro tip: Use a favicon generator to produce all required sizes and formats from a single master file.
How to add a favicon using HTML
To manually add a favicon to your website, insert a <link> tag inside the <head> section of your HTML document.
Basic example:
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
To support multiple formats and devices:
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">
Make sure the favicon files are placed in the correct directory and are accessible.
How to add a favicon in WordPress
Adding a favicon to a WordPress website is simple and does not require editing code.
- Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard
- Step 2: Go to Appearance → Customize
- Step 3: Click on Site Identity
- Step 4: Upload your favicon image as the Site Icon (512x512 pixels recommended)
- Step 5: Click Publish
WordPress will automatically generate and insert the favicon markup into your website’s <head> section.
Does a favicon affect SEO?
Favicons do not directly impact Google rankings, but they influence SEO-related metrics and user behavior:
- Click-through rate (CTR): On mobile search results, Google shows the favicon next to your site’s name. A clear, branded favicon can increase clicks.
- Brand trust and perception: A recognizable favicon gives your site a polished look, which boosts trust among users and return visits.
- User engagement: Favicons improve the visual appeal of your page in tabs and bookmarks, helping users return more easily.
So while not a ranking factor, favicons play a role in improving overall user experience and site performance.
How to test if your favicon is working?
There are several ways to test and troubleshoot your favicon:
Browser check: Open your site in different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and clear the cache if the favicon doesn’t show up.
Inspect source: Right-click your webpage and select “View Page Source.” Check if the <link rel="icon"> tag is present and correctly linked to a valid file.
- Online favicon checker tool you can try for free: https://realfavicongenerator.net/favicon-checker
RealFaviconGenerator offers a favicon checker that tests over a dozen settings to ensure your favicon works across all major platforms, including iOS and Google search results.
It supports various development environments like HTML, React, and Next.js.
Another option:
Google Search Console: In the Enhancements or Mobile Usability section, Google may notify you if your favicon is missing or broken.
Make sure your favicon loads on both HTTP and HTTPS versions of your site, and that it is accessible to all user agents.
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