BMP vs JPEG-XR-HEIF Format Comparison
BMP
Bitmap Image File
image/bmp
VS
JPEG XR Image (HEIF Container)
image/jxra
JPEG-XR-HEIF
A complete technical comparison of Bitmap Image File and JPEG XR Image (HEIF Container) — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
BMP wins on browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | BMP | JPEG-XR-HEIF |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | ✕ No | Yes |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | Yes |
| HDR Support | ✕ No | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | ✕ No | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
Bitmap Image File
image/bmp
Extension
.bmp.dib
Container
BMP / DIB
Compression
Uncompressed / RLE
Algorithm
NoneRLE (Run-Length Encoding)
Color Depth
1-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit
Developed by
Microsoft Corporation
Released
1985
Magic Bytes
42 4D
JPEG XR Image (HEIF Container)
image/jxra
Extension
.jxra
Container
HEIF / ISOBMFF (ISO/IEC 23008-12 / Annex F of ITU-T T.832)
Compression
Lossy / Lossless
Algorithm
JPEG XR (Lapped Biorthogonal Transform)
Color Depth
8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit (Float)
Developed by
ISO/IEC JTC 1 / ITU-T
Released
2019
Magic Bytes
XX XX XX XX 66 74 79 70 6A 78 72 41
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | BMP | JPEG-XR-HEIF |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✓ All
|
✕ |
Firefox
|
✓ All
|
✕ |
Safari
|
✓ All
|
✕ |
Edge
|
✓ All
|
✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✓
|
✕ |
BMP
BMP Strengths
- Universally supported across almost all operating systems, image editors, and programming languages
- Lossless quality (since it is typically uncompressed, no visual data is lost)
- Extremely simple file structure makes it easy to read and write programmatically
Limitations
- Massive file sizes make it entirely unsuitable for web delivery or network transfers
- No native animation support
- Lacks modern features like EXIF metadata and widespread transparency support
JPEG-XR-HEIF
JPEG-XR-HEIF Strengths
- Combines the deep color (32-bit float) and mathematically lossless compression of JPEG XR with the robust metadata architecture of HEIF
- Allows grouping multiple images, exposure brackets, or focal stacks into a single file collection
Limitations
- Practically non-existent software and operating system support compared to standard HEIC or legacy JPEG XR (.jxr)
- Zero web browser support, rendering it entirely unsuitable for public web deployment
- Eclipsed by modern standards like AVIF and JPEG XL which offer superior compression with much broader industry backing
When to choose which format
BMP
Use BMP when…
- Windows Desktop Wallpapers
- Legacy Windows Applications
- Simple Image Editing
JPEG-XR-HEIF
Use JPEG-XR-HEIF when…
- Specialized Archival
- Experimental Imaging Workflows
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging
Convert & Edit Online
Free online web tools for BMP and JPEG-XR-HEIF files.
Free Image Resizer
Editor
Resize, scale, crop, and modify dimensions for any photo or graphic.
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Image Metadata Remover
Privacy
Clean EXIF, camera, lens, and location tags from your photos.
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WebP to JPG Converter
Universal
Convert modern web images to universal high-compatibility JPG.
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Compress WebP Images
Optimizer
Reduce image file sizes for faster web performance.
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