When you open several tabs while researching online, some websites catch your eye instantly, while others seem to disappear. What causes this? A simple but strong symbol called a favicon.
Think about well-known brands like Amazon, YouTube or Twitter. You can see their sites right away, even without reading the tab title, because of their small, familiar icons. This simple design strengthens their brand and improves user experience. However, many website owners ignore this and miss a simple chance to make their site look neat and professional.
In this blog, we’ll look at why a favicon is more than a simple icon and what makes it an important part of your website’s identity.
Favicon definition: What is a favicon image?
A favicon is a small 16×16 pixel icon that represents a website in browser tabs, bookmarks, and search results. It helps users identify and remember a website easily. It can even show up in search results next to the web page’s URL.
In some cases, like Google Chrome, favicons appear on the browser’s homepage. They serve as a symbol to identify a site. It helps users find and locate a site on the web more easily. Favicons are often called shortcut icons, tab icons, URL icons or bookmark icons.
Why are favicons important?
Adding a favicon to your website is one of the best strategies for marketing your website. Here’s how it can benefit your website:
Promotes brand identity
A favicon represents your brand so users can easily identify your business. These icons are visible on browser tabs, history and bookmarks. Users are more likely to click on your website if your branding is clearly visible in their browser.
Favicons also help your brand marketing. A good favicon should be visible on your user’s mobile phones and computer taskbars so that it can direct them effortlessly to your website’s tab.
When you create a website with a favicon that has consistent design and legibility, users will subconsciously remember the image associated with your brand.
Improves user experience
The main purpose of a favicon is to help users identify a page quickly when they have multiple tabs open in a single browser window.
A user-friendly website improves your search rankings since your website is easy to access and people will want to revisit it.
Favicons also save users time from having to search for a tab or link. It helps them quickly locate your website on the browser tabs and bookmark it in seconds.
Makes websites look professional
Besides boosting visibility, understanding favicons and adding one to your website enhances its professional appearance. It also helps strengthen your brand’s credibility.
The modern online user wants to interact with trustworthy businesses.
If you create a website without a favicon, the browser will display a generic icon, which can harm your website’s traffic.
Impacts SEO and visibility
While favicons don’t directly impact your site’s search engine optimization (SEO), they can enhance user experience and brand recognition. Google and other search engines scan for favicons when crawling websites.
If found, the favicon is used to visually represent your site in search results. This, in return, contributes to better search rankings and improved recognition.
Where do favicons appear?
Here are the primary locations where favicons can be found:
- Address bar: Some browsers display the favicon in the address bar, providing a visual confirmation that the user is on the desired website. This can reinforce trust and recognition.
- Bookmarks and favorites: When users bookmark or add a website to their favorites list, the favicon is often used as the bookmark’s visual identifier. This assists users in quickly identifying and accessing their preferred sites.
- Google listing: Favicons next to a website’s listing in Google’s search results offer users a quick way to recognize brands, differentiate search results and improve the overall search experience.
- Browser history: The favicons in your browsing history make it easier to identify websites you’ve previously visited. If you have a long browsing list, an easy-to-recognize favicon is essential to help you find what you need.
What type of image is a favicon?
Favicons are tiny in size and can appear as fewer than three characters of text or simple images that represent your website.
Don’t confuse a favicon with a logo. While a logo can be used as a favicon, a favicon needs to be smaller in size or encompass just a part of your logo.
For instance, Facebook and Twitter’s favicons look the same as their logos. The multicolored envelope graphic for Gmail and the “W” for WordPress are other examples of what a favicon is.
The recommended format for a favicon icon is ICO. The ICO format is a special multilayered image file. Each layer holds a different image size for use in different contexts. This is handy when you create a website with a favicon.
What size should a favicon be?
The standard sizes for favicons are:
- Browser favicons – 16×16
- Taskbar shortcut icons – 32×32
- Desktop shortcut icons – 96×96
- Apple touch icons – 180×180
- WordPress sizing – 512×512
However, different interfaces, like apps, may require other favicon sizes for enhanced visibility. You can use an online favicon generator tool to create custom favicon for your needs.
What formats do I use for a favicon?
Windows ICO: The ICO format is the standard for favicons and is supported by most browsers and operating systems.
PNG: PNG files are widely used for favicons due to their lossless compression and support for transparency.
SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) fashions are resolution-independent and offer crisp, scalable icons, but browser support may vary.
GIF: Gifs can be used for animated favicons, adding motion to your site’s icon.
JPG: While less common, JPGs can be used for static favicons. But they may lose image quality due to compression.
APNG: Animated Portable Network Graphics (APNG) allows for animated favicons, but browser support is limited compared to gifs.
Do I need a favicon for my website?
Yes, you do need a favicon when you create a website. Online businesses constantly compete for users’ attention and a good favicon helps you stand out from the masses. It also serves as a memorable visual cue for your brand.
Users spend less time searching for the link to your website and more time on your pages.
How to add a favicon?
If you’re using WordPress, here’s a step-by-step guide to adding a favicon:
1. Click “Appearance”: Log into your WordPress dashboard. On the left-hand sidebar, locate and click on “Appearance.” This section controls various aspects of your website’s design and appearance.
2. Click “Customize”: After clicking “Appearance,” you’ll see a list of customization options. Click on “Customize” to access the WordPress Customizer, which allows you to make real-time changes to your site’s design and settings.
3. Click on “Site Identity”: Within the Customizer, you’ll find a range of customization options organized into sections. Look for and click on “Site Identity.” This section typically includes settings related to your site’s title, tagline and logo.
4. Navigate to the “Site Icon” section and click “Select Site Icon”: In the “Site Identity” section, scroll down until you find the “Site Icon” option. This is where you can upload and set your favicon. Click on “Select Site Icon.”
Note: This section may vary in different themes. Check if your theme supports the Site Icon setting.
5. Publish your changes: After selecting and cropping your favicon, click the “Publish” button in the upper-right corner of the Customizer to save your changes. This will make your favicon live on your website.
6. View your website: Finally, open a new browser tab and visit your website. You should now see your newly added favicon displayed in the browser tab, enhancing your site’s branding and helping visitors identify your site more easily.
Support Guide: How To Add a Favicon
How to create a good favicon?
A well-crafted favicon should be instantly recognizable, even at tiny sizes, reinforcing your brand and facilitating user engagement.
- Use space wisely: Maximize a small square canvas (usually 16×16 or 32×32 pixels) to ensure clarity and impact.
- Simplicity: Keep the design clean and straightforward. Avoid intricate details that may be lost in small sizes.
- Brand identity: Incorporate elements like your logo or key symbols that reflect your brand’s identity for instant recognition.
- Abbreviating: Consider using initials or abbreviations to convey your brand effectively within the limited space.
- Color coordination: Stick to your brand’s color palette for consistency and brand recognition. Limit the color scheme to a few harmonious shades.
Final thoughts
Favicons are one of the most valuable assets of a website. We can’t stress enough the importance of using a favicon when you create your website. While it may look tiny and insignificant, it impacts user experience and brand identity.
A favicon should be recognizable and straightforward to ensure a user-friendly experience. It saves users time since they can navigate to their favorite websites with ease.
It doesn’t help to know what a favicon is if you don’t create one for your website. Using a favicon will significantly enhance your brand marketing and increase user engagement.
Need help with branding and design? Explore Bluehost’s Web Design Services.
FAQs
A favicon is a small icon associated with a website, usually displayed in browser tabs, bookmarks and search results. It enhances brand recognition, improves user experience and adds a professional touch to your website.
The most common favicon sizes are 16×16 px, 32×32 px and 48×48 px. The preferred format is ICO, as it supports multiple resolutions in one file. Other supported formats include PNG, SVG and GIF, but compatibility may vary by browser.
To add a favicon to your WordPress site hosted on Bluehost:
1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Appearance > Customize.
3. Click on Site Identity and find the Site Icon option.
4. Upload your favicon (at least 512×512 px for WordPress compatibility).
5. Click Publish to save changes.
Alternatively, you can upload the favicon manually to your website’s root directory via Bluehost’s File Manager or use a favicon plugin.
A favicon does not directly impact search rankings. However, it improves user experience, brand recognition, and engagement. A recognizable favicon makes users more likely to revisit your site. This can increase click-through rates (CTR) and reduce bounce rates. Both are positive SEO signals.
