What is a Favicon

What is a favicon and where are they used?

Whenever you have a browser tab open or are browsing your bookmarks, you'll notice a small icon next to the web page title. That icon is a favicon. A favicon is a small icon that identifies and differentiates your website from others.

A favicon could be your logo, initials, symbol, or any graphic that effectively captures your brand identity. It's this powerful little image that helps people recognize your brand when they see it.

Favicons are more than just decoration. If several tabs are open in your browser bar, the favicon helps to differentiate one brand from another. Favicons help us find what we're looking for faster.

The term favicon was first coined in 1999. The word itself is a shortened form of "favorite icon." While favicon is the most common term, you might also hear it called a website icon, tab icon, shortcut icon, or even an app icon. Ultimately, they all refer to the same thing: a small image that represents your website.

Where favicons appear online

Favicons are extremely useful because they make websites easier to recognize across the internet. You'll find favicons in these places, among others:

• Browser tabs

• Bookmarks

• Address bars

• Search engine results

• Desktop shortcuts

• Browser history

• Search bars

• Mobile search results

Create a favicon with the free Logo Maker

Why do favicons matter?

First impressions are everything, and your favicon is no exception. It's a small touch that can make a big difference in how your brand is perceived. The favicon may be one of the first brand visuals someone sees for your site and helps to build ongoing brand awareness.

Without it, something can feel off. It's a visual cue that ties the design of your website together. Every major brand includes a favicon on its website. When favicons aren't there, users may feel the brand isn't as trustworthy or professional.

There are four top reasons to include favicons in the design of your site: branding, professionalism, user experience, and mobile experience.

1. Branding

Favicons are an extension of your brand's identity. Because favicons are often your logo, initials, or a symbol associated with you and what you do, they also serve as a visual representation of your website and its content.

When users see your favicon, they should instantly associate it with your brand. This helps to build brand recognition and reinforce your brand identity, maintaining brand consistency across platforms and devices.

2. Professionalism

If you don't see a favicon, its absence may raise a subconscious red flag for you. How professional is this site? Can it be trusted?

Having a favicon makes a website look more polished. It also makes the site appear more credible. Visitors are more likely to click on, buy from, or interact with a site they feel is trustworthy.

3. User experience

Our browser tabs and bookmarks can quickly become overwhelming. Favicons make it easier for users to identify your website, especially when multiple tabs are open. A favicon also improves the overall user experience and makes your website more accessible. Using a consistent visual cue across all platforms makes your website easily recognizable and encourages visitors to return. As a result, they also improve trust across devices, searchability, and brand recognition for your site.

4. Mobile experience

Favicons play an important role in the mobile experience by making it easier for users to find and access your website on their smartphones and tablets. When you take the time to add a favicon to your website, you improve the mobile experience for your audiences. That ease of use can make them more likely to visit and stay on your site.

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