Vector Image
Vector Image
An image format that records color and shape as mathematical formulas, so it never loses quality when enlarged.
In Simple Terms
A vector image is image data drawn by calculating points and lines with mathematical formulas. No matter how much you zoom in or out, it never gets blurry or jagged, and keeps smooth outlines. That's why it's used for fonts, company logos, and illustrations. It's also used for web icons that need to scale to fit different smartphone screen sizes.
Behind the Name
The word "vector" comes from math and physics, where it means a quantity that has both direction and magnitude. It traces back to the Latin word for "carrier" or "one that carries," capturing the idea of a system that calculates shapes and positions using mathematical formulas.
Take a Closer Look!
A vector image is image data expressed through mathematical formulas that calculate points and lines.
Since it records information like color, shape, and size as formulas, the image never loses quality no matter how much you enlarge or shrink it.
Bitmap images, commonly used for photos, represent color through a collection of tiny square dots.
That's why enlarging a bitmap image too much makes those square dots stand out, creating a jagged look.
Vector images, on the other hand, can always redraw clean lines through calculation, so they keep a smooth appearance at any size.
Simply put, a vector image is like a set of instructions for drawing shapes.
It's widely used when creating logos and illustrations in design software, as well as for icon assets on websites.
Having a relatively small file size is another one of its defining features.