JPEG vs PNG vs WEBP: Which Format to Use?

Choosing the right image format is crucial for both quality and performance. In this article, we'll compare the three most popular image formats: JPEG, PNG, and WEBP.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG is the most widely used image format for photographs and complex images. It uses lossy compression, which means some image quality is sacrificed to reduce file size.

Best for: Photographs, complex images with many colors, situations where small file size is more important than perfect quality.

Not ideal for: Images with text, line art, or transparency needs.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG uses lossless compression, meaning no quality is lost during compression. It also supports transparency, making it ideal for logos and graphics.

Best for: Images requiring transparency, simple graphics, screenshots, images with text.

Not ideal for: Photographs (file sizes will be much larger than JPEG).

WEBP

WEBP is a modern format developed by Google that provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web.

Best for: Web images where both quality and performance matter, when browser support is available.

Not ideal for: Situations where maximum compatibility is required (some older browsers don't support WEBP).

Comparison Table

Format	Compression	Transparency	Best Use Case
JPEG	Lossy	No	Photographs
PNG	Lossless	Yes	Graphics with transparency
WEBP	Both	Yes	Modern web images