We need new image file formats because no single format can deliver every kind of image with the best mix of small file size, visual quality, useful features, fast decoding and broad compatibility. New formats such as WebP, AVIF and JPEG XL aim to improve that balance; they do not make JPEG, PNG or every older format obsolete.
Why image formats keep changing
An image file format defines more than how pixels are compressed. It can also determine whether a file carries transparency, animation, metadata, color profiles, high bit depth, high dynamic range (HDR), layers or a way to display progressively while downloading. Older formats may lack some combinations of these features, or may produce larger files for a particular image and quality target.
Compression is central to the tradeoff. Lossy compression discards some image information to reduce file size; lossless compression preserves the original data. Lossy compression can work well for photographs, but artifacts may stand out around text, diagrams and sharp edges. Lossless encoding is often a better fit for those images. The right choice depends on the image, the acceptable fidelity and the devices that need to display it. MDN’s image format guide explains these format and compression distinctions.
Smaller image transfers can reduce the time needed to load page resources and may help a page’s Largest Contentful Paint, but the result depends on the image, encoding settings and delivery path. Google’s image performance guidance does not establish a fixed speed gain for switching formats.
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Which image format should you use?
Choose based on the image and the requirements, not just the extension. Compare files at the size and quality you will actually serve, and check browser and application support for your audience.
| Image or requirement | Practical starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs for the web | WebP or AVIF are reasonable formats to evaluate. | Compare quality and size at your target settings, plus decoding and browser support. |
| Screenshots, diagrams, logos and line art | Try lossless encoding to avoid conspicuous artifacts; PNG is a familiar fallback. | Inspect text, fine lines and transparent areas at their actual display size. |
| Scalable diagrams and charts | Consider SVG where appropriate. | Confirm that the graphic’s content and publishing pipeline suit a vector format. |
| Large, high-resolution raster images | JPEG XL is worth evaluating where the target browsers and tools support it. | Check the current support status and test encoding, decoding and file size on representative images. |
| Animation or transparency | WebP supports both; other formats may offer these features too. | Verify that the exact browser and software workflow supports the feature you need. |
These are starting points, not universal rules. MDN’s current guidance favors WebP or AVIF for many raster images, suggests considering JPEG XL for large high-resolution raster images, and recommends JPEG or PNG fallbacks for unsupported cases.
What newer formats add
WebP: several common image needs in one format
WebP supports lossy and lossless compression, alpha transparency and animation. Its container can also carry metadata and color profiles. The IETF’s RFC 9649 describes WebP as an image format designed for efficient transfer and covering uses associated with JPEG, PNG and GIF. Combining features does not guarantee that WebP will make every image smaller; the source image and encoding settings still matter.
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AVIF: a candidate for web-quality photographs
AVIF is one of the formats MDN recommends evaluating for many raster images. Its results vary by content and settings, so compare it against alternatives using actual site images rather than assuming that one codec always wins.
JPEG XL: broader imaging features and a JPEG transition path
The JPEG Committee’s JPEG XL overview describes a format aimed at responsive web use and professional imaging. Its capabilities include wide color gamut, HDR, high bit depth, animation, alpha transparency, layers, thumbnails, lossless coding and progressive coding. JPEG XL can also losslessly recompress existing JPEG files and restore the exact original JPEG, a potential transition path for established JPEG workflows. These capabilities and the committee’s broad compression claims do not guarantee a smaller file for every image.
AVIF and JPEG XL: examples, not a universal winner
In an August 24, 2026 article, Mozilla’s Jake Archibald reported Firefox’s intent to ship JPEG XL, Chrome’s indicated intent and Safari’s existing partial implementation. He described AVIF as strong for web-quality photographs and images mixing sharp edges with flat regions, and JPEG XL as useful for lossless images, progressive rendering and lossless JPEG recompression. An announced intent is not the same as support in every released browser, so check compatibility for your deployment.
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Archibald’s published examples show why testing matters. For one fox photograph, AVIF was 116 kB at SSIMULACRA 2 score 62.8, compared with 134 kB for JPEG XL at the same score; at score 80, the files were 227 kB and 264 kB, respectively. For the lossless versions of that photograph, AVIF was 1.76 MB, JPEG XL 1.45 MB and WebP 1.55 MB. For one screenshot at score 78, AVIF was 11.6 kB and JPEG XL 23.8 kB; the lossless versions were 164 kB and 92 kB. These are specific examples, not population-wide benchmarks or a universal ranking. Mozilla Hacks: “Intent to Ship: JPEG XL” recommends testing representative images at a quality suitable for a site’s users.
Will modern image formats work in your browser?
Support changes over time and differs among browsers, operating systems and applications. Do not assume a format is safe for every visitor because it works in your own current browser. For web pages, MDN recommends using a <picture> element with one or more format-specific <source> elements and a fallback <img>. Use JPEG or PNG as appropriate for the fallback image and its transparency needs.
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<picture>
<source type="image/avif" srcset="/images/example.avif">
<source type="image/webp" srcset="/images/example.webp">
<img src="/images/example.jpg" alt="A descriptive alternative">
</picture>The browser can choose a supported source; the <img> remains the fallback. For a live deployment, check current compatibility for the browsers and other software your audience uses. MDN’s format guide covers the markup and format considerations.
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How to choose and test a format
- Group images by content. Separate photographs from screenshots, text-heavy graphics, logos, line art and animation; they can behave differently under compression.
- Set requirements. Decide the acceptable visual quality and file size, and whether you need transparency, animation, metadata, HDR, wide color gamut or progressive display.
- Encode a representative sample. Use the actual dimensions and quality settings planned for delivery. Include difficult images, not just the easiest examples.
- Compare the decoded results. Inspect photographs for visible degradation and graphics for artifacts around text and edges. Compare file sizes, and account for encoding and decoding cost.
- Test your delivery path and target browsers. Verify that the right source is selected, the fallback works and the image displays correctly on supported devices.
- Use responsive variants where useful. Serve dimensions appropriate to the display rather than transferring an unnecessarily large original. Measure the resulting page behavior; a format change alone does not guarantee a particular performance improvement.
Or skip the browser setup
If your task is to capture a website as an image rather than choose an image codec, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns a PNG, JPEG or WebP screenshot, or a PDF; see the ScreenshotNeo documentation for options and setup. For example, this cURL call saves a WebP screenshot of Stripe:
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Does a new image format always make a file smaller?
No. File size depends on the image, format, encoding settings and quality target. Test representative images before switching.
Best Value
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Is JPEG obsolete now that newer formats exist?
No. JPEG remains useful as a widely supported format and as a fallback where newer formats are unsupported.
What is progressive rendering?
It lets an image begin rendering before the entire file has downloaded. JPEG XL supports progressive coding.
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