What is a characteristic of PNG files compared to GIF files?

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files are known for their lossless compression, which means that they retain all the original image data without any loss in quality when the file is compressed. This characteristic allows PNGs to display images with crisp edges and fine details, making them suitable for images that require high quality and transparency support.

In contrast, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) files use a different compression method and have a limited color palette of up to 256 colors, which can lead to lower color quality in images with rich and varied colors. Also, while PNG files may have larger file sizes compared to GIFs because of their higher quality and color depth, the key distinguishing feature is the lossless compression aspect. This enables PNG files to be widely used for web graphics, logos, and images that require clear, high-quality reproduction.