WebP (Web Picture Format) 

The WebP (Web Picture Format) was developed by Google in 2010 as a modern image format designed to reduce image size while maintaining quality. Its architecture is based on technology derived from the VP8 video codec, allowing both lossy and lossless compression. WebP supports 24-bit color with transparency (alpha channel) and animation, making it a versatile replacement for JPG, PNG, and GIF.

The format was created to optimize web performance by reducing page load times without sacrificing visual fidelity. Lossy WebP uses predictive coding to compress image data, while lossless WebP employs advanced techniques like dictionary coding and Huffman coding. This makes WebP typically 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPG or PNG images.

Applications of WebP include websites, mobile apps, and platforms like Google Chrome, YouTube, and Android, where image optimization directly improves user experience and bandwidth efficiency. Its adoption has increased steadily as browsers and tools added support.

People use WebP primarily due to application requirements, since many web platforms automatically convert images into WebP for performance. However, designers and developers also choose it by preference, recognizing its ability to unify the strengths of multiple older formats. Today, WebP is considered a next-generation standard for web images, supported across most modern browsers.