PNG Reference Library

The PNG Reference Library is pretty cool when it comes to handling PNG files. You know how there are tons of file formats out there? Well, that’s because different sources and libraries bundle all the bits you need into those files. So, if you're making a program, you might need extra libraries to work with certain formats. This library lets you read, write, and manipulate PNG files in your custom software.

How It Works

Now, this isn’t just a regular app that you can open up and use on its own. Think of it more like a toolbox filled with code that developers have to plug into their projects. Right now, it mainly supports the C programming language as its default choice.

Features of the Library

If you build a program using this library, you’ll be able to do some nifty things like read, write, and even edit PNG files. It works well on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems and uses zlib for lossless compression during conversions.

Understanding Structures

This library has two important structures: png_struct and png_info. Each one has its own job! The png_info structure helps gather info about the PNG file you’re working with. On the other hand, png_struct is what you’ll use when decoding a single image.

Working with Multiple Images

The best part? You can enable functions to work with several PNG images at once! It’s recommended that every file includes both png_struct and png_info structures. Plus, you can have more than one png_info tied to a single PNG file—pretty neat!

If you're interested in checking it out more or want to download it for your projects, feel free to visit this link here!