Favicon
A favicon (from favorite icon) is the small icon that identifies a website, displayed in the browser tab, in the bookmark list, in history and — on mobile devices — next to Google search results. It is usually a logo or a simplified brand symbol in a square format. Although a favicon occupies only a handful of pixels, it plays an important visual role: it helps users quickly locate a site among many open tabs and reinforces brand recognition.
How a favicon works
When loading a page, the browser looks for a reference to the icon in the HTML code — a <link rel="icon"> tag placed in the <head> section points to the icon file. If no such reference exists, the browser falls back to requesting a favicon.ico file from the site's root directory. Modern sites declare several icon variants in different sizes and formats so the icon looks sharp on screens of varying pixel density.
File formats
Historically favicons were saved in the ICO format, which packs several resolutions into one file. Today PNG is widely used for crisp icons, along with SVG, which scales without loss and can even respond to the browser's dark mode.
Practical applications
A correctly configured favicon is part of consistent branding and a foundation of a professional site image. Content management systems such as WordPress let you upload the icon from the admin panel, while a manual setup simply requires placing the file on the server and adding the right tags to the template. The favicon is also used as the shortcut icon when a site is added to a phone's home screen and in PWA apps, where — together with the manifest — it creates a native, app-like experience.
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Najczęstsze pytania
What format and size should a favicon be?
Classically an ICO file at 16×16 and 32×32 pixels is used, but modern sites also add PNG and SVG variants for high-resolution screens. It is worth preparing larger versions (for example 180×180 px) for home-screen shortcut icons on mobile devices.
Does a favicon matter for SEO?
Indirectly, yes. A favicon is not a direct ranking factor, but Google displays it next to results in mobile search. A recognisable icon builds trust and can improve click-through rate (CTR).