SVG files are XML-based vector graphics. Because they're both image files and text files, they can be opened in more ways than almost any other format.
To view an SVG, open it in any web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. Just drag the file into a browser window or double-click it (if your browser is set as the default for SVG). The browser renders it at any zoom level without quality loss. This is the fastest way to check what an SVG looks like.
To edit an SVG as a graphic, Inkscape (free, cross-platform) is the standard open-source vector editor. It opens SVGs natively and gives you full control over paths, shapes, text, gradients, and transformations. It's the free equivalent of Adobe Illustrator for vector work.
Figma (free tier, browser-based) imports SVGs and lets you edit them in a modern design tool. This is convenient if you're already using Figma for design work. Illustrator is the professional standard but requires a paid subscription.
To edit an SVG as code, open it in any text editor — VS Code, Sublime Text, Notepad. SVG is XML, so you can directly edit paths, colours, dimensions, and styles. This is the fastest way to change a colour (`fill="#FF0000"` → `fill="#0000FF"`), resize (`width="24"` → `width="48"`), or strip unnecessary metadata to reduce file size.
For quick colour or size changes, editing the SVG code directly is often faster than opening a design tool. For complex shape editing, use Inkscape or Figma.