Why does Webflow import favicons in a size of 32x32 pixels instead of the traditional 16x16 pixels?
TL;DR
- Webflow uses 32x32 favicons to ensure sharp visuals on high-DPI displays and maintain compatibility with modern browsers.
- It automatically resizes uploads for optimal quality, and supports higher-resolution icons for flexible rendering across platforms.
Webflow imports favicons at 32x32 pixels because modern web standards and high-resolution displays benefit from larger, more flexible images.
1. Web Standards Prefer Higher Resolutions
- For many years, 16x16 was the default favicon size used by browsers, especially in tab bars.
- Modern browsers and devices now support multiple favicon sizes, including 32x32, 48x48, and 180x180 (e.g., for iOS home screen icons).
- A 32x32 favicon is backward compatible (browsers can downscale it to 16x16), while still being more crisp on high-DPI displays.
2. Better Support for Retina and HiDPI Displays
- On Retina or 4K screens, a 16x16 favicon can look blurry or pixelated.
- Using a 32x32 image ensures sharp rendering when scaled down or when larger icons are needed (e.g., pinned tabs in some browsers).
3. Webflow's Optimization Strategy
- Webflow automatically resizes the uploaded favicon image to 32x32 pixels to provide an ideal balance between compatibility and quality across platforms.
- You can still upload a higher-resolution favicon (like 512x512 PNG), which Webflow will scale and process as needed for various contexts.
4. Compatibility with Browser Behavior
- Browsers like Chrome and Firefox accept multiple favicon sizes and will typically use the higher-resolution one available.
- Providing a 32x32 favicon ensures better results in features like browser context menus, bookmarks, or pinned tabs.
Summary
Webflow uses 32x32 favicons instead of 16x16 because it's the modern standard that ensures better quality on high-DPI displays and broader compatibility across different browser interfaces, while still supporting legacy needs.