WebP
WebP is an image format developed by Google that provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web. It supports features like transparency (alpha channel) and animation, making it a versatile alternative to traditional formats like JPEG and PNG. The format is designed to reduce file sizes while maintaining high visual quality, which helps improve website loading times and bandwidth usage.
Developers should use WebP when optimizing web performance, as it typically reduces image file sizes by 25-35% compared to JPEG and PNG without sacrificing quality, leading to faster page loads and better user experiences. It's particularly valuable for responsive web design, e-commerce sites with many product images, and mobile applications where data usage is a concern. However, note that browser support is not universal, so fallback strategies are often necessary.