HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default image format for photos capture on modern Apple devices. Based on the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standard, HEIC files offer high-quality images at roughly half the file size of an equivalent JPEG. This format supports features like transparency, 16-bit color, and storing multiple images (like Live Photos) in a single container. Sample HEIC files are critical for testing compatibility with Apple's ecosystem and image processing pipelines. Developers use them to verify that their applications can decode and display high-efficiency images on non-Apple platforms (like Windows or Android). They are also used to test conversion tools that transform HEIC photos into more universally compatible formats like JPEG.