WebP
A next-gen format by Google with both lossy and lossless modes. Better efficiency than JPEG and PNG.
WebP is an image format from Google (2010) designed to improve web image delivery efficiency. It applies VP8 video codec keyframe compression to still images, supporting both lossy and lossless modes in a single container.
Google's WebP documentation states that lossy WebP files are 25-34% smaller than comparable JPEGs at equivalent quality, and that lossless WebP files are about 26% smaller than PNGs. The actual reduction depends on the source image and the quality setting, so exporting to each candidate format and comparing is the reliable way to decide. This efficiency comes from VP8-derived techniques: macroblock prediction, adaptive block quantization, and boolean arithmetic coding.
- Dual modes: Lossy for photos, lossless for graphics - one format covers both use cases
- Alpha channel: Transparency even in lossy mode, enabling "photo + transparency" impossible with JPEG
- Animation: Animated WebP replaces GIF with higher quality and smaller size
- Metadata: Stores EXIF, XMP, and ICC profiles within its RIFF container
As of August 2026, the major browsers support WebP, so web compatibility is rarely the deciding factor. Editing tools have caught up as well: Photoshop reads and writes WebP natively from version 23.2 onward. Support still varies by application and version, so a conversion step is sometimes unavoidable in an editing workflow. Compared with AVIF, WebP often compresses less efficiently, while encoding time and the range of supporting tools tend to make it easier to work with.