What is JPEG?
JPEG is an acronym for "Joint Photographic Experts Group", the committee that first issued the standard for the format in 1992. JPEG is a lossy format designed to encode photographs, using various compression techniques to save space while still keeping the image looking good to the human eye.
JPEG has been the format of choice for sharing photographs for decades, and has full support in all browsers.
How does JPEG compare to WebP?
JPEG, while still widely used across the web, falls significantly behind WebP in terms of compression efficiency and feature capabilities. WebP typically achieves 25-35% smaller file sizes than JPEG at equivalent quality levels, meaning websites can deliver the same visual experience with substantially less bandwidth and faster loading times. Unlike JPEG's single lossy compression option, WebP offers both lossy and lossless compression modes, giving developers greater flexibility in optimizing images based on specific use cases and quality requirements.
The technical advantages extend beyond just file size reduction. JPEG lacks support for transparency, requiring separate PNG files for images with transparent backgrounds, while WebP handles transparency natively within the same format. Additionally, JPEG cannot support animation, necessitating GIF files for moving images, whereas WebP seamlessly handles animated content with superior compression. While JPEG maintains broader legacy support across older systems and devices, WebP's universal adoption by modern browsers makes it the superior choice for contemporary web development, offering a single format solution that outperforms JPEG in virtually every measurable metric.