Have you ever wondered what that little square icon within a web browser tab is called? Formally, that image file is called a favicon, short for “favorite icon,” and it provides a visual cue about the website you’re visiting. It’s also the image file that accompanies bookmarks on your browser and apps on your mobile device. While small in size, the favicon makes a large impact for those who keep a few (okay, many) tabs open on their web browsers and want to quickly scan through them. It also serves as a visual brand marker for your website — a sign of identification and safe landing for visitors.
If you’re visiting the Apple website, you should expect to see the Apple logo on your browser tab. And if you’re visiting a UW website, you should expect to see something … well, UW. If you manage a campus website, open a new tab and see if you have an active favicon. Fortunately, UW-branded favicons are built into UW WordPress Themes for you.
If you don’t use the UW Theme — or worse, if your current favicon looks purple instead of red — don’t worry! You can download our UW-branded favicons, which feature the W Crest and follow best practices for readability and contrast. Detailed instructions for how to activate favicon files across modern browsers and operating systems are included in the download folder.