What is WebP and why does it matter?
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google in 2010, designed specifically for the web. It supports both lossless and lossy compression, as well as transparency (like PNG) and animation (like GIF) — all in a single format. The key advantage is file size: WebP images are typically 25–35% smaller than equivalent PNG files and 25–34% smaller than JPEG files at the same visual quality. For websites, smaller images mean faster page loads, better Core Web Vitals scores, and improved Google search rankings.
Does WebP support transparency?
Yes — WebP fully supports alpha transparency, just like PNG. This makes it a direct drop-in replacement for PNG files used as logos, icons, UI elements, and any other graphics with transparent backgrounds. When you convert a PNG with transparency to WebP using FreeImageConverter, the transparency is preserved perfectly in the output file.
Is WebP supported by all browsers?
As of 2024, WebP is supported by all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari (since version 14), Edge, and Opera — covering over 97% of global web users. It is now safe to use WebP as your primary image format for websites without worrying about compatibility. The main exception is very old versions of Internet Explorer, which are no longer in common use.