Convert ICON to PBM

An ICON file, an abbreviation for Icon Image File, is primarily used in Microsoft Windows operating systems to represent graphical icons. These files are essential for visually identifying applications, files, and folders, enhancing user experience through graphical representation. ICON files support multiple sizes and color depths, ensuring compatibility and visual clarity across different display settings. Introduced in the early versions of Windows, ICON files have evolved to accommodate higher resolutions and color variations, aligning with advancements in display technology. Their primary function is to provide a quick, intuitive visual reference for software and system elements.

The PBM (Portable Bitmap) file extension, part of the Netpbm project, originated in the late 1980s to facilitate efficient and portable graphics file interchange. Primarily, PBM files are used to store monochrome bitmaps in a simple ASCII text format, ensuring easy compatibility across different systems and platforms. This format supports only black-and-white imagery, making it particularly useful in scenarios where simplicity and minimalism are prioritized, such as in Unix environments for bitmap manipulation and transfer. Its historical significance lies in promoting a standardized approach to bitmap graphics in early computer technology.