An animated GIF is a graphic image on a Web page that moves - for example, a twirling icon or a banner with a hand that waves or letters that magically get larger. In particular, an animated GIF is a file in the Graphics Interchange Format specified as GIF89a that contains within the single file a set of images that are presented in a specified order. An animated GIF can loop endlessly (and it appears as though your document never finishes arriving) or it can present one or a few sequences and then stop the animation.

Java, Shockwave, and other tools can be used to build applets that achieve the same effects as an animated GIF. However, these require browsers and operating systems capable of handling the applets. Animated GIFs can be handled by most browsers and are easier to build than comparable images with Java or Shockwave.

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PC users can try out a shareware program, GIF Construction Set for Windows from Alchemy Mindworks.

A number of people maintain lists of animated GIF examples. The Dutchman's Page includes a "Top 150 Animated GIFs List."

Learn2.com is a site that makes intelligent, selective use of animated GIFs to illustrate "how-to" topics.