WebP is an image format that delivers smaller file sizes than traditional formats while preserving visual quality. Google developed WebP to make web pages load faster by reducing image weight, which often accounts for the majority of page bytes.
Compression Benefits
WebP lossless images are 26% smaller than equivalent PNGs. WebP lossy images are 25-34% smaller than JPEGs at comparable quality levels. These savings compound on image-heavy pages like product galleries or portfolios.
The format supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency (alpha channel), and animation. This versatility means WebP can replace JPEG, PNG, and GIF in most use cases.
Impact on Core Web Vitals
Smaller images download faster, directly improving when hero images or product photos are the LCP element. Google explicitly recommends WebP in guidance as a way to reduce resource load times.
Faster image loading also reduces total page weight and bandwidth consumption, benefiting users on slow connections or limited data plans.
Browser Support and Fallbacks
All modern browsers support WebP, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For older browsers, implement fallbacks using the picture element with WebP as the preferred source and JPEG or PNG as alternatives.
Many CDNs and image optimization services automatically convert images to WebP and serve the appropriate format based on browser support.
When to Use Other Formats
JPEG remains suitable for photographs where WebP conversion adds complexity without meaningful size reduction. PNG excels for images requiring precise color accuracy or sharp text. AVIF offers even better compression than WebP but has narrower browser support.
