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Images make up a huge part of web pages, so it's important to use image formats that are optimized for web usage. One relatively new image format that has gained popularity in recent years is WebP, developed by Google in 2010 but recently gaining lots of attention.
Basic compression
WebP is designed to provide better compression and quality than JPEG and Png through a combination of traditional image compression techniques and advanced image analysis algorithms that can identify and remove redundant pixels, resulting in smaller file sizes without a loss of quality. WebP files are thus typically smaller than JPEG or PNG files, which means they load faster and use less bandwidth.
Lossy/Lossless compression
Another advantage of WebP is that it supports both lossy and lossless compression. Lossy compression is a technique that discards some image details to achieve smaller file sizes, while lossless compression preserves all image details but typically results in larger file sizes. With WebP, you can choose which type of compression to use based on your specific needs.
Additional features
Finally, WebP supports a wide range of image features:
Alpha transparency (partial and full)
EXIF and XMP metadata
ICC profiles
Animation (with support for both lossy and lossless)
Upscaling and downscaling
This makes it a flexible format that can be used for a variety of purposes, from simple static images to complex animations and graphics. Unfortunately, not every basic, out-of-the-box software is fully compatible with this format, holding it from becoming a true dominator between image formats in web design.