Images are an important component of web design, but they are often also the main culprit in slow loading times. Until now, the well-known image formats JPEG and PNG were used exclusively because they were known for their good quality and compatibility. However, there are now two new image formats that are gaining ground and have the potential to shape the future of web design: WebP and AVIF.
WebP and AVIF replace old image formats
Developed by Google, WebP is an image format specifically optimized for the web. It offers higher compression than JPEG files and better quality than PNG files. This means images in WebP format load faster and require less storage space without compromising image quality. WebP files typically have 26% better compression than PNG files and 25-34% better compression than JPEG files. Furthermore, WebP is supported by all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
AVIF is a new image format that's even more advanced than WebP. It offers the best quality and compression compared to other image formats. It uses the latest video codecs and technologies to save images in high quality. AVIF has the potential to become the leading image format in the future, as it offers higher quality at a smaller size than any other image format. AVIF is currently supported by the latest versions of the Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers, but unfortunately, older versions do not yet support the format. So if you choose to use AVIF, use a fallback option so that older browsers receive JPG or PNG files.
The advantages of the new image formats
Using WebP and AVIF formats offers numerous advantages for web design. The biggest benefits are improved quality and better compression. Reducing file size allows websites to load faster, resulting in a better user experience. These formats also allow more images to be used on a website without significantly impacting loading times. This is especially important for websites that contain a lot of images, such as online stores or news portals.
Another advantage of WebP and AVIF is that they offer better support for transparency than JPEG or PNG files. These formats allow you to create images with transparent backgrounds, which leads to better integration of images into web designs. Furthermore, WebP even supports animated images and can be used as an alternative to GIF files.
Competitive advantage through the use of new image formats
Despite the many advantages, most web designers and website operators have not yet switched to the new image formats. This can provide a competitive advantage for those already using this technology. Using WebP and AVIF allows websites to load faster, which can lead to more conversions and higher customer satisfaction. It also positively impacts search engine rankings. Websites that use these new image formats can take advantage of their advantages, especially on mobile devices, where internet speeds are often slower.
