JPG and WebP explained
JPEG is a lossy image format designed for photographs. It works by discarding detail the human eye is least likely to notice, particularly in colour and in smooth gradients, which is why it compresses photos far better than it compresses text or line art.
WebP is a Google-developed format that offers both lossy and lossless modes, transparency, and animation in one container. In its lossy mode it typically produces files around 25–35% smaller than JPEG at comparable visual quality.
- Where JPG files come from
- Digital cameras, phone screenshots on Android, and essentially every photo on the pre-2015 web.
- Where WebP is used
- Modern websites, and increasingly the default export from web-focused design tools.