Compress Images Without Losing Quality (WebP)
If your site feels slow, images are usually the biggest lever. WebP can cut size a lot while staying sharp.
Quick rules
- Photos → lossy WebP
- UI screenshots/logos → lossless WebP
- Resize to display size first (biggest win)
Quality checklist
Check:
-
text edges
-
faces
-
gradients (banding)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WebP?
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides superior compression compared to JPEG and PNG. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency and animation.
When should I use lossy vs lossless WebP?
- Lossy WebP: Use for photos and images with many colors/gradients. Provides 25-35% smaller file sizes than JPEG with similar quality.
- Lossless WebP: Use for UI elements, logos, screenshots, and images with sharp edges or text. Maintains perfect quality with 26% smaller file sizes than PNG.
Do all browsers support WebP?
Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 14+) support WebP. For older browsers, provide fallbacks using the <picture> element or serve JPEG/PNG as alternatives.
How much smaller are WebP files?
Typically 25-35% smaller than JPEG for photos, and 26% smaller than PNG for graphics. Actual savings depend on image content and quality settings.
Should I convert all my images to WebP?
Yes, but provide fallbacks for older browsers. Use WebP as the primary format with JPEG/PNG as fallbacks using the <picture> element or content negotiation.
What quality setting should I use?
For lossy WebP: Start with quality 80-85 for photos. For lossless WebP: Use for UI elements where quality is critical. Test different settings to find the best balance for your images.
