A ZIF file is an image saved in the Zoomify Image Format (ZIF), which is a format used to store multi-resolution raster images for zoom-and-pan viewing on the Internet. It contains a collection of small JPEG or PNG image "tiles" at different resolutions that are loaded depending on the zoom level a user has selected. ZIF files also store metadata that includes how the image tiles are organized to make up the larger image.

ZIF files are primarily used to store images that users desire to view at different zoom levels, such as a mountain vista, planet, or skyline. The size of the files may vary greatly from several megabytes to several gigabytes. Depending on the ZIF file size, the file may store several or thousands of image tiles. NOTE: Zoomify can be used to view ZIF files and convert images saved in other formats to the ZIF format.