JPEGPNGWebP

JPEGPNGWebP is an informal label that groups together three of the most common web image formats: JPEG, PNG, and WebP. These raster formats encode photographic and graphical content for display in software, on websites, and in digital archives. Each format offers different trade-offs in compression, quality, and features.

JPEG, developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, uses lossy compression optimized for photographs with continuous-tone color. It achieves small file sizes at the cost of some image quality and compression artifacts, and it does not support transparency or animation.

PNG is a lossless format designed for graphics with sharp edges and text. It supports an alpha channel for per-pixel transparency, and it preserves detail without artifacts. PNG files are typically larger than JPEG for photos but ideal for logos and UI elements.

WebP, created by Google, provides both lossy and lossless compression and supports transparency and animation. In many cases, WebP yields smaller files than JPEG for similar quality, and lossless WebP can outperform PNG. Broad browser support has increased since the mid-2010s.

In practice, JPEG remains common for consumer photography; PNG is preferred for graphics, transparency, and images requiring exact reproduction; WebP is increasingly used on the web where supported, often with fallbacks to JPEG or PNG for compatibility.