HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a modern image file format developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). It's a container format that typically holds images encoded using HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265. This encoding allows for significantly smaller file sizes compared to JPEG, often achieving similar image quality with roughly half the storage space. HEIC can also store image sequences, audio, and metadata, making it a versatile format. Apple adopted HEIC as the default image format for iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 11, contributing to its widespread use. While HEIC offers superior compression, compatibility issues can arise as not all operating systems and software natively support it. Converting HEIC files to more universally supported formats like JPEG or PNG is often necessary for sharing or editing on different platforms. The format's ability to store multiple images in a single file makes it suitable for Live Photos and burst photos, where a short sequence of images is captured.