A computer file format for the compression and storage of visual digital information; also: an image or video stored in this format — Merriam-Webster Dictionary

#1 If you ever talked about the Web with me — or talked with me at all — you probably know that my favourite thing in the world are animated GIF files and starry sky wallpapers, preferably animated as well. I just like the way they look and I like them as a reminder of fun times when the users made a travesty out of the worldwide digital network.
The online life of today’s user is full of diverse attractions, and best it follows very strict standards. It is disciplined and formalised. There is a particular service offered for every format a user may want to share with the world, a community for every interest, a network for every social group. And mash ups for artists, and SL for 3D and furries. And there is something for animated GIF makers, too — there are glitter graphics generators and collections of ready-made graphics. — Olia Lialina and Dragan Espenschied, Digital Folklore, 2009