A favicon (short for "Favorite Icon") is a small symbol associated with a website, displayed in browser tabs, bookmarks, and often in search engine results. It helps users quickly recognize a website and reinforces the site's branding. Favicons are typically square and available in sizes like 16x16, 32x32, or 48x48 pixels. The file is often created in .ico format, but PNG, SVG, or GIF formats are also supported. A typical example of how to include a favicon in HTML is:
<link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
The favicon is stored in the root directory of a website so that browsers can automatically detect it. Using a favicon enhances the professional appearance of a website and improves user experience.