WebP
WebP (noun) means an image format designed for web pages, which can store photographs, graphics with transparency and short animations, usually at a smaller file size than JPEG or PNG. Example: “Switching the product photos to WebP knocked a second off the page load.”
How to Use WebP
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA newer image file made for websites, usually smaller than an old-style photo file.
Mainly used by developers and site owners; general users tend to meet it only when a downloaded image won't open. Written with a capital W and a capital P.
Written WebP, not WEBP or Webp, though the file extension is the lower-case .webp.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Switching the product photos to _____ knocked a second off the page load.
Etymology
From web, the format having been designed by Google for images on the web. No official expansion of the P has been published, so any gloss of it is guesswork.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between WebP and JPEG?
Both can compress photographs, but WebP generally reaches a similar visual quality at a smaller file size. WebP also supports transparency and animation, which ordinary JPEG does not. JPEG has far wider support in older software and hardware.
Why won't a WebP file open in some programs?
The format is newer than JPEG and PNG, and support was added gradually. Current browsers, phones and mainstream image editors handle it, but older applications and some printing or publishing tools may not recognise the file and need it converted first.
Is WebP lossy or lossless?
It can be either. WebP defines a lossy mode, which discards fine detail like JPEG, and a lossless mode, which keeps every pixel like PNG. Whoever saves the file chooses which mode is used.