random web question

Post by **Jonathan** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:37 pm

hey, you know how some sites have a little icon? what are those things called? how do you specify them? is it html or a server thing or what?

Peijen · Post by **Peijen** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:59 pm

You know I looked it up one time few years ago, but I don't remember anymore. It's similar to cookies, but it's an icon on the address bar/bookmarks instead.

bob · Post by **bob** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:23 am

It's called the favicon. You can probably see in your server logs that there are a lot of requests for /favicon.ico, which likely doesn't exist. It's an icon file, in standard Windows .ico format, which contains various sized images. You should make sure that, at a minimum, it contains both 16x16 and 32x32 pixel versions of your icon. Ideally, you provide a wide range of sizes and color depths, but I've found that you'll hit nearly everybody in the world with just those two sizes in 24-bit RGB.

Check http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/#icoformat, where you can download (Windows, Mac, and GPL source) ICO File Format, which is a Photoshop plugin to handle single-image .ico files. And you can also download ICOBundle from the same page to combine those into multi-image icon files.

By default, a browser will look for /favicon.ico, in your web server's root. But you can have each page specify its own favicon with an html tag in the header, and the browser should use that icon for all pages beneath it in the directory hierarchy.

Code: Select all

<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicons/sack.ico">

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:39 am

ooh ooh ooh, does this mean that mohtalim is gonna get a favicon?!?!

George · Post by **George** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:41 am

I just checked my bookmarks and my Mohtalim link shows the CNN icon. I've seen the bookmarks lose icons before, but never spontaneously borrow icons before now.

Anyway, Mohtalim needs its own icon, if only to differentiate itself from my CNN bookmark.

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 2:04 am

Yes, Mohtalim has borrowed icons from other sites on my system, too.

Ever since I got this meta refresh up, I've been wanting to be able to tell if there were new posts without clicking on the tab. I thought maybe an icon would do the trick. Now I'm thinking just a simple change in title.

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 2:05 am

But, hell, if somebody wants to create an icon, I'll slap one up there. Same rules as the banner image contest.

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 2:19 am

Dammit, someone post so I can see if my title-changing code worked.

George · Post by **George** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:21 am

Dwindlehop wrote:Dammit, someone post so I can see if my title-changing code worked.

done

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:12 am

No dice. Guess I'll poke it tomorrow.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:56 pm

at least a few pixels must be deticated to joesucks

George · Post by **George** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:57 pm

Since I wasn't around, what were the rules? I like Dave's idea; "Joe Sucks" should fit into 16x16 pixels with the proper font choice.

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 4:41 pm

Rules are I take the first icon sent to me that is SFW .

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:08 pm

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:15 pm

okoko, i made one. the best. patriotic. without compromize. and promising a better future

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:19 pm

nice, but it's not in ico format and thus doesn't qualify as a valid submission.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:34 pm

lies, .ico is just .bmp renamed you big fat newb.

ok, just a tall newb

http://www.jonathan.pearce.name/dave/joe.ico

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:49 pm

you lie. or bob lies. the important thing here is that it's not my fault.

http://www.jonathan.pearce.name/favicon.ico

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:55 pm

Actually, it does work on my root directory. Huh. That's... interesting.

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:57 pm

So it sorta works for me, now.