Understanding Image File Formats: A Complete Guide

A comprehensive overview of popular image formats and when to use each one for optimal results in web and print applications.

JPEG Format

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is the most widely used format for photographs. It uses lossy compression to achieve small file sizes, making it ideal for web use where bandwidth matters.

PNG Format

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) supports lossless compression and transparency, making it perfect for logos, graphics with text, and images requiring transparency.

WebP Format

WebP is a modern format developed by Google that provides superior compression for both lossy and lossless images. It's increasingly supported across browsers and offers significant file size savings.

AVIF Format

AVIF is the newest format offering even better compression than WebP. While browser support is still growing, it represents the future of web image formats.

SVG Format

SVG is unique as a vector format, using mathematical formulas instead of pixels. This makes it perfect for logos, icons, and graphics that need to scale infinitely without quality loss.