WebP (Image Format).
WebP is a modern image format by Google that reduces JPEG and PNG images by 25–50% in file size — with equal or better quality. WebP is supported by all modern browsers and is the standard for optimized web images. Crucial for Core Web Vitals.
WebP (Image Format) — Explained in Detail
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google in 2010. Compared to JPEG and PNG, WebP achieves at the same visual quality a 25–35% smaller file size for photos (vs. JPEG) and up to 50% smaller file size for graphics with transparency (vs. PNG). WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, animation (alternative to GIF), and transparency (alpha channel). All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) support WebP.
Why is WebP so important for websites? Images are the largest factor in a web page's file size — typically 60–80% of the total page weight. Smaller images mean faster loading times, better Core Web Vitals (especially LCP), and lower bandwidth costs. Google PageSpeed Insights explicitly recommends WebP as an optimization measure. AVIF is an even newer format (even better compression) but is not yet as widely supported.
How do you implement WebP? Next.js (next/image component) automatically converts and optimizes images to WebP (and AVIF). For other setups: conversion with Sharp, Squoosh, or Adobe Photoshop/Figma export. In HTML, the `<picture>` element is recommended with WebP as the primary format and JPEG/PNG as a fallback for older browsers. DLM Digital uses WebP (and AVIF where appropriate) as standard for all projects — as part of Core Web Vitals optimization.
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Core Web VitalsFrequently Asked Questions About WebP (Image Format)
Yes, for new projects WebP should be the default image format. All modern browsers support WebP. For older browser compatibility (IE11), you can use the `
AVIF is an even newer format (2021) with even better compression than WebP — 20–30% smaller at the same quality. AVIF is supported by Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, but not by IE11 (negligible anyway) and some older mobile devices. Next.js supports AVIF automatically. For maximum compatibility: AVIF first, WebP as fallback, JPEG/PNG as last fallback.
Easiest methods: 1) Squoosh.app — free, browser-based, no download needed. 2) Next.js next/image — converts automatically. 3) Sharp (Node.js library) for automatic batch conversion. 4) Cloudflare Image Optimization — converts and optimizes automatically. 5) Adobe Photoshop (from version 2021) and Figma export directly to WebP.
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