Eye of GNOME (eog) — GNOME's default image viewer

Features

The program focuses on essentials that improve image viewing and presentation. Typical capabilities include zooming and panning, full-screen display, basic rotation, slideshow mode for sequential viewing of files in a folder, and configurable handling of transparent image regions. It displays animated images such as animated GIFs and relies on the desktop platform's image-loading libraries to support various file types.

Supported formats and back ends

Rather than implementing its own decoders, Eye of GNOME uses GNOME platform libraries to read image data. This allows it to support widely used formats such as JPEG, PNG and GIF and other types available through the underlying image back ends. Support for additional formats depends on the libraries installed on the system.

User interface and usage

Eye of GNOME presents a simple, uncluttered interface that integrates with GNOME conventions. Controls are geared toward fast navigation: keyboard shortcuts for zoom and rotation, a toolbar for common actions, and a thumbnail or filename list to move between images in the same directory. It is commonly launched by double-clicking an image in the GNOME file manager or by invoking eog from a terminal with a filename or directory argument.

Integration, accessibility and distribution

As a core GNOME application, eog follows GNOME's guidelines for integration, accessibility and internationalization. It is distributed as free software alongside the GNOME platform and receives updates as part of the GNOME release and maintenance process. Packaging and availability vary by Linux distribution, where it is often the default image viewer for GNOME sessions.

How it compares to other tools

Eye of GNOME deliberately omits advanced editing, cataloguing and pixel-level manipulation found in image editors and photo managers. For tasks such as metadata editing, batch processing or detailed retouching, dedicated applications are more suitable. For quick previews, presentations or casual browsing within the GNOME desktop, eog provides a lightweight and integrated solution.

Practical tips

• Use fullscreen and slideshow modes for simple presentations without extra software.
• Rotate and zoom with keyboard shortcuts to inspect details quickly.
• If a particular file type is not supported, installing additional image loader libraries for the system can add support without changing the viewer.