What is WebP (and why does it matter)?

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What is WebP (and why does it matter)?
The file formats you use on your website have a major impact on its speed, quality, and performance. However, figuring out which image types to use can take a bit of research. WebP , for example, is a relatively new next-generation image file format created by Google.

Understanding what WebP is and how to use it on your WordPress site can help you improve your user experience (UX) and overall reduce your loading times.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to WebP , explain its history, and see why it’s important. We’ll also provide some helpful tips for using it on your WordPress site.

Let's get started!

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Introduction to WebP
Image optimization is an essential aspect of website estonia phone number data and performance. One of the best and most effective ways to optimize images is to reduce file size through compression. The smaller your files are, the easier it is for the server to load your site, resulting in faster speed.

There are two main types of image compression: lossy and lossless. Lossy compression occurs when the file size is reduced by removing some image data, reducing quality in the process. With lossless compression , the data is simply reconstructed, maintaining higher quality.

WebP is a modern image file format developed by Google in 2010 that uses both lossless and lossy compression. Its goal is to provide smaller, faster images for websites, with superior performance. In fact, according to Google, WebP lossless images are 26% smaller than PNGs, and lossy images are up to 34% smaller than JPEGs.

Why WebP is important
As we have said, images play a significant role in the performance of your website. The size of its files affects its speed and, in turn, the UX. Therefore, it is important to make sure you choose the best image file formats .

WebP is a raster image format created specifically for online images. Simply put, it is important to know about because it allows you to display high-quality images using smaller file sizes than you might otherwise be able to achieve using other formats.

Using the predictive encoding method , WebP images can encode images based on their pixel values. Essentially, only what is needed is included without distorting the appearance of the photo. As a result, file sizes are small, but image quality remains relatively high.

The ability to use multiple images without worrying about slow loading times can help improve the overall look of your WordPress site. Having the freedom to use the image sizes and quality you want also gives you more flexibility in designing your site.

How to Use WebP Images on Your WordPress Site
Now that you understand what WebP is and what its benefits are, let’s look at some of the ways you can use this format on your WordPress site. First, it’s important to note that not all browsers currently support WebP images. For a full breakdown of which browsers and versions are compatible with WebP (as opposed to what might require you to use a backup image file format), you can visit Can i use :