ISO IEC 23008-12-2022 PDF
Name in English:
St ISO IEC 23008-12-2022
Name in Russian:
Ст ISO IEC 23008-12-2022
Original standard ISO IEC 23008-12-2022 in PDF full version. Additional info + preview on request
Full title and description
Information technology — High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments — Part 12: Image File Format. This standard (commonly associated with HEIF/HEIC-like image storage) specifies an interoperable container format for a single image, collections of images, and image sequences; defines metadata container structures and linking mechanisms; and defines brands for storing images encoded with HEVC, AVC, JPEG, VVC and EVC codecs.
Abstract
ISO/IEC 23008-12:2022 defines the Image File Format (an image-oriented application of the ISO base media file format) to enable interchange, editing and display of still images and image sequences together with associated metadata. The specification builds on tools from ISO/IEC 14496‑12 and sets out box/brand structures, metadata carriage, and rules for embedding images using several modern codecs; note that storage of full video sequences is explicitly out of scope (see ISO/IEC 14496‑15 for video carriage).
General information
- Status: Published (superseded / withdrawn — see FAQ).
- Publication date: 2022-09-29.
- Publisher: ISO/IEC (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29 — Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information).
- ICS / categories: 35.040.40 (Coding of audio, video, multimedia and hypermedia information).
- Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2022).
- Number of pages: 119 pages.
Core bibliographic details above are taken from the official standards catalogue entries and national bodies.
Scope
The document specifies an interoperable image file format based on the ISO base media file format (ISO/IEC 14496‑12). It covers container structures for single images, image collections and image sequences, metadata containers and linking, and defines brands for storing images encoded using HEVC, AVC, JPEG, VVC and EVC. It does not provide the storage specification for video sequences (that functionality is covered by ISO/IEC 14496‑15).
Key topics and requirements
- Definition of image container structures and box/atom organization compatible with the ISO base media file format.
- Rules for carrying and linking metadata associated with images (captioning, EXIF-like data, display and editing metadata).
- Brand registration and usage for images encoded with HEVC, AVC, JPEG, VVC and EVC to ensure interoperability.
- Support for single images, image sequences, and image collections within a single interoperable file format.
- Normative references to ISO/IEC 14496‑12 (ISO base media file format) and cross-references to MPEG systems technologies.
Typical use and users
Implementers of image container formats (software libraries, operating system image frameworks, media players, image editors), device manufacturers (smartphones, cameras, imaging appliances), content delivery platforms, digital asset management systems, and standards developers are the primary users. Use cases include storing high-efficiency images with rich metadata, exchanging image sequences, and enabling interoperable image editing and display across devices and services.
Related standards
Directly related documents include ISO/IEC 14496‑12 (ISO base media file format), ISO/IEC 14496‑15 (carriage of HEVC video in the ISO base media file format), earlier and later editions/amendments of ISO/IEC 23008‑12 (2017 edition, 2022 edition and the 2025 revision), and codec standards such as the HEVC, AVC, VVC and EVC specifications referenced for brand definitions.
Keywords
Image File Format, HEIF, HEIC, ISO base media file format, ISO/IEC 23008-12, metadata, image sequence, HEVC, AVC, VVC, EVC, MPEG systems.
FAQ
Q: What is this standard?
A: ISO/IEC 23008‑12:2022 is the international standard that defines the Image File Format — a container format for single images, collections and sequences, built on the ISO base media file format and used for HEIF/HEIC-like image storage.
Q: What does it cover?
A: It covers the container and metadata structures, brand definitions for multiple image codecs (HEVC, AVC, JPEG, VVC, EVC), and rules for linking metadata to image items. It does not define full video sequence storage (see ISO/IEC 14496‑15).
Q: Who typically uses it?
A: Software and hardware implementers (image libraries, OS/image frameworks, cameras, phones), content and asset management vendors, media players and editors, and standards bodies working on interoperability.
Q: Is it current or superseded?
A: The 2022 edition was published on 29 September 2022. It has been superseded by a later edition (ISO/IEC 23008‑12:2025); the 2022 edition was marked withdrawn/replaced with a documented withdrawal date in 2025. For current normative text, consult the 2025 edition and its amendments.
Q: Is it part of a series?
A: Yes — it is Part 12 of the ISO/IEC 23008 series (MPEG-related standards for high-efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments) and is tightly linked to ISO/IEC 14496 (ISO base media file format and related parts). Multiple amendments and revisions (and corrigenda to earlier editions) exist.
Q: What are the key keywords?
A: HEIF, HEIC, Image File Format, ISO base media file format, metadata, image sequence, HEVC, AVC, VVC, EVC.