HEVC Image Sequence (HEIF Container)
image/heic-sequence
Released 2017
· by Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) / Apple
An image/heic-sequence stores a collection of HEVC-encoded images within a single High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) container. It is most notably utilized by Apple's ecosystem to power 'Live Photos' and burst photography, offering seamless animation and rich metadata at a fraction of the file size of traditional video or GIF formats.
Technical Specifications
.heics.heic
HEVC (H.265)
image/heif-sequence
Magic Bytes & HTTP Headers
....ftyphevc
Browser Support Matrix
| Browser | Status | Min Version |
|---|---|---|
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Not Supported | — |
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Not Supported | — |
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Supported | 11+ |
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Not Supported | — |
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Not Supported | Legacy |
Advantages & Limitations
- Incredibly efficient storage for bursts and short animations compared to GIF or motion JPEG
- Supports 16-bit color, HDR, and alpha channel transparency across all frames
- Shares frame data blocks, meaning the base image and animation data are heavily optimized for space
- Zero support in web browsers outside the Apple ecosystem (Chrome, Firefox, Edge do not support it)
- Heavily encumbered by HEVC patent pools, hindering open-source adoption
- Complex container structure makes parsing and decoding difficult without specialized libraries
Developer Code Snippets
File Detection Steps
How to programmatically detect a image/heic-sequence
file by reading its raw bytes:
- 1 Check for ISOBMFF 'ftyp' box starting at byte offset 4
- 2 Verify 'hevc' or 'hevx' brand string starting at byte offset 8 to confirm it is a HEVC sequence
Software Support
ImageMagick
Conversion Tools
Share & Embed
[](https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/heic-sequence)
<iframe src="https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/heic-sequence/embed" width="100%" height="280" style="border:1px solid #cbd5e1;border-radius:8px;" title="HEIC-Sequence Specs"></iframe>
JSON API
All data on this page is available as a free, open JSON API. Use it in your project, documentation, or tooling.
GET https://freewebptojpg.com/mime/image/heic-sequence.json
Open JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between image/heic and image/heic-sequence?
While both use the HEVC (H.265) codec inside a HEIF container, image/heic represents a single still image, whereas image/heic-sequence contains multiple frames (an image sequence) used for animations, burst shots, or Live Photos.
What is the magic byte for HEIC sequences?
Like other HEIF files, HEIC sequences use the ISOBMFF container structure. The signature begins with a 4-byte box size, followed by the 'ftyp' identifier, and the brand string 'hevc' or 'hevx'. The hex representation is typically XX XX XX XX 66 74 79 70 68 65 76 63 (....ftyphevc).
How do I display an image/heic-sequence on a website?
Native browser support is practically non-existent outside of Safari on Apple devices. For cross-browser web delivery, HEIC sequences must be converted to standard web animation formats like Animated WebP, AVIF, or MP4 video.