ICO VS PDF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Icon File and Portable Document Format.
ICO
icoStandard format used for computer icons and favicons.
Pros
- Contains multiple resolutions
- Standard for Windows/Web icons
Cons
- Limited use case
- Inefficient for general images
Standard for document exchange, preserving layout.
Pros
- Universal layout preservation
- Security features
- Vector text
Cons
- Difficult to edit
- Not responsive for mobile
When ICO wins
Stay with ICO when you need favicons or desktop icons. Its strengths center on contains multiple resolutions and a feature set native to Microsoft.
When PDF wins
Choose PDF when your workflow prioritizes contracts or manuals. It delivers universal layout preservation plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | ICO | |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/x-icon | application/pdf |
| Developer | Microsoft | Adobe |
| Release Year | 1985 | 1993 |
| Best For | Favicons, Desktop icons | Contracts, Manuals, Forms, Printing |
Need to switch?
Where ICO still wins
Keep ICO when you need contains multiple resolutions and workflows depend on favicons / desktop icons. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship PDF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .ico glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use PDF for contracts while archiving originals as ICO.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.