Image Optimization Articles
Choosing the Right Image Format
JPEG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF? A guide to selecting the best format for your needs.
Choosing the Right Image Format
Selecting the appropriate image format is crucial for balancing quality and performance. The wrong format can result in unnecessarily large files or poor image quality.
Key Factors to Consider
- Image content: Photographs vs. graphics vs. text
- Transparency needs: Alpha channel requirements
- Animation: Whether the image needs to move
- Browser support: Compatibility with user browsers
- Quality requirements: How critical is visual fidelity
Image Format Comparison
Format | Best For | Compression | Transparency | Browser Support |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPEG | Photographs | Lossy | No | Universal |
PNG | Graphics, text | Lossless | Yes | Universal |
GIF | Simple animations | Lossless | Yes (1-bit) | Universal |
WebP | Photos & graphics | Both | Yes | Modern browsers |
AVIF | High quality photos | Both | Yes | Latest browsers |
SVG | Logos, icons | Vector | Yes | Universal |
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