Data URI is a method for embedding small images directly in your HTML or CSS code using base64 encoding without the need for additional image files.
It's useful when you want to improve performance by reducing the number of HTTP requests needed to load a webpage or when you want to distribute a script/HTML page with some icons or other small images but prefer to keep it in a single file, or include images in email signatures.

All major browsers currently support data URI in a CSS background property.
Data URI in a HTML image src property is not supported by Internet Explorer.