Bitmap is used in computer graphics for everything from web design to video games. It is also frequently used in digital photography, where they are called JPEG files. So let’s know what is Bitmap?
Table of Contents
- What is a bitmap? – What is a Bitmap (BMP)?
- types of bitmap files
- What is a pixel? –What Are Pixels?
- Difference between Pixmap and Bitmap
- Difference Between Vector Graphics and Bitmap
- Uses of Bitmap
- What kind of images can be created using bitmaps?
- Why we need bitmaps?
Bitmap क्या है? – What is a Bitmap (BMP)?
Bitmap is an image format that stores an image in a way that each pixel can be accessed quickly. Bitmap is also known as bitmapped graphics. And it is also called BMP for short.
A picture made up of pixels is called a bitmap. These files store information on every pixel. That is, it is a map of dots or bits which when viewed from an appropriate distance from the screen, the complete picture is visible, hence it was named Bitmap.
The color information of the image is stored in each of its bits. This graphic format has a certain resolution. If you zoom in on the image, it will appear like small blocks.
Types of bitmap files
List of some common bitmap file types. You might already know most of these file formats.
- Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
- Portable Network Graphics (PNG)
- Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
- Exchangeable Image File (EXIF)
- Tag Image File Format (TIFF)
- BMP
- PICT
What are pixels? –What Are Pixels?
Each pixel has one color value (red, green, blue) and an intensity level. This means there are four numbers associated with each pixel.
Difference between pixelmap and bitmap
“Pixmap” is the short form of pixel map. A pixelmap stores and displays images as a rectangular grid of pixel color values.
A pixelmap is a rectangular grid of pixels used to store and display an image with multiple bits per pixel. In a pixmap, pixels of 8 bits and less represent grayscale or indexed color.
Whereas, a pixelmap that uses only one bit to store each pixel’s color information is called a bitmap. Which is sometimes also called a pixelmap.

Difference Between Vector Graphics and Bitmap
Vector graphics are more flexible than bitmaps since they can scale without losing quality. However, vector graphics require more processing power and memory to render.
Whereas a bitmap graphic has a fixed resolution, due to which its quality changes when scaled. And its performance doesn’t require a lot of processing power, making it ideal for use on mobile devices, where memory space is at a premium.
Uses of Bitmap
There are several uses for bitmaps. Here are some common ones:
- Web design – Bitmaps are commonly used for background images on websites.
- Video Games – Bitmaps are also used in video games.
- Graphics – Bitmaps are used in graphics programs such as Photoshop.
- Print Media – Bitmaps are used for print media such as newspapers and magazines.
What kind of images can be created using bitmaps?
Bitmaps are often used as placeholder images until a vector graphic is ready. This means that when you use bitmap images, you are really using placeholder images. You cannot edit the images once they are uploaded to the website.
Why we need bitmaps?
Bitmaps are very efficient at storing large quantities of data. Since each pixel stores only one color value, there is no need to store multiple colors per pixel. Which makes it the standard for representing photos and other images where each pixel represents a different color.