Can I use WebP? A format made for the web

The average weight of desktop web pages has significantly increased over the past decade, leading to slower loading times, largely due to the size of images. WebP, an image format developed by Google, addresses this issue by providing both lossy and lossless compression, resulting in smaller file sizes without sacrificing image quality. This format, which supports features such as transparency and animation, has become widely adopted by browsers and tools since 2020, offering an efficient means to enhance website performance, speed, and SEO. WebP images are 26% smaller than PNGs and 23-24% smaller than JPEGs, which contributes to faster loading times and improved user experiences, ultimately benefiting conversion rates and search engine rankings. Additionally, WebP's ability to handle metadata and color management further enhances its utility for web designers. As a result, WebP has gained a 97% market share among web browsers, despite comprising only 7% of web images in 2021, with continued growth expected. WebP images can be created or converted using various graphic software and CMS tools, such as Photoshop and Webflow, allowing for seamless integration into existing workflows.