What is favico.ico?

[S_dawg]

It keeps appearing in my logs & site traffic, but I can't figure out what it is, and it's generating "file not found" errors.

[Alan B]

It's favicon.ico (not favico.ico). A favicon.ico file provides the small icon that can display in a browser's tab for a particular site. For example, here is WHB's icon: http://www.webhostingbuzz.com/favicon.ico

All those logs mean is that browsers or search indexers looked for your favicon.ico, but you don't have one. No big deal.

[marksalehouse]

Normally you will be told that it has to be a certain size (like "tiny") and it has to be simple - created by MS Paint for example. However, I successfully use animated GIFs on my websites - though they do have to be renamed to .ico to work.

You will need a META tag within the page header to link to it and the icon is normally stored in the root directory, though sometimes you may need it stored in some folders as well. For instance:

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


M

[Colin]

However, I successfully use animated GIFs on my websites - though they do have to be renamed to .ico to work.

Oh so you're one of those types of people responsible for making my firefox's bookmark file reach into the megabytes in size.

[marksalehouse]

Who? What? Me?

Naw! Mine are personalised and small.

Mark

[carlobee]

oh. now i know about this. nice to know additional info! thanks.