favicon
Favicon (noun) means the very small image a website supplies to represent itself, shown in the browser tab, next to the address, and beside the site in a list of bookmarks. Example: “I recognise the tab by its favicon before I read the title.”
How to Use Favicon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tiny picture that appears on a website's browser tab.
Standard among web developers and designers; a general audience is more likely to understand tab icon.
Because it is displayed at a very small size, a favicon is usually a simplified mark rather than a shrunken full logo.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
I recognise the tab by its _____ before I read the title.
Etymology
A blend of favourites (in the US spelling favorites) and icon, from the small image originally shown beside a saved bookmark.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for favicon
See all rhymes for favicon →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a favicon and a logo?
A logo is a brand's full mark, designed to be legible at large sizes. A favicon is a tiny image, often just an initial or a single symbol taken from the logo, because fine detail disappears at a few pixels across.
Why does my favicon not update?
Browsers store favicons for a long time, so an old one often keeps appearing after the file has been replaced. It usually resolves once the stored copy is cleared or expires.
What size should a favicon be?
Sites commonly supply several sizes in one file or as separate images, because browsers, phone home screens and bookmark lists each display it differently. There is no single required size.