BMP (Windows Bitmap)

.bmp .dib · image/bmp · 1990 · Microsoft

BMP is the native Windows bitmap format from 1990. Pixels are usually stored uncompressed, so files are enormous — a 12-megapixel photo is ~36 MB as BMP versus ~3 MB as JPEG. It survives in legacy Windows software, scanners and embedded systems. Unless a specific tool demands BMP, converting to PNG (lossless) or JPEG (photos) saves 90%+ with nothing lost in practice.

Compression

Lossless

Transparency

No

Animation

No

Browser display

All browsers

Strengths & limitations

Strengths

  • Dead simple, universally readable
  • No compression artifacts ever
  • Fast to write on old hardware

Limitations

  • Massive file sizes (usually uncompressed)
  • No real transparency support in practice
  • No animation, poor metadata

Best used for

Tools for BMP

Compress BMPBMP → JPEGBMP → PNGJPEG → BMPPNG → BMP