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When you view an image created with GIF89a, it is downloaded once from the server and
then reloaded from your browser's cache on subsequent iterations of the loop. This means
that once a page is downloaded, the animations can loop even when you've pulled the plug
on your network connection. One advantage that these animated GIFs have over a
client-pull or server-push is that they won't over work your server. A server-push or
client-pull requires that an image be downloaded for each frame of the animation, as
well as for each cycle of the loop.
While GIF89a just recently made its way into the spotlight, the technology has actually
been around for years. (The "89" in its name refers to the year the specification was
created.) Netscape revived interest in the technology when it listed animated GIFs as a
feature in its Navigator 2.0.
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Go to Graphic Links page
Go to Optimizing Gifs page
(11k) All Pages done with Macintosh Computer
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by Erik Carlson
Best when viewed with Netscape Navigator
(3549bytes) erikcarlson@mac.com