Image Formats Explained for Web Developers

Understanding different image formats is essential for web developers. Each format has specific characteristics that make it suitable for different use cases. This guide explains the major image formats used in web development.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

SVG is a vector-based format that uses XML to describe graphics. It's resolution-independent and scales perfectly at any size.

Best for: Icons, logos, simple illustrations, graphics that need to scale
Compression: Lossless, file size depends on complexity
Transparency: Yes
Browser Support: Excellent (all modern browsers)

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG is a raster format with lossless compression, making it ideal for graphics that require exact pixel accuracy.

Best for: Screenshots, graphics with text, images requiring transparency
Compression: Lossless
Transparency: Yes (alpha channel)
Browser Support: Universal

JPG/JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG is a lossy compression format optimized for photographs and complex images with many colors.

Best for: Photographs, complex images with many colors
Compression: Lossy (adjustable quality)
Transparency: No
Browser Support: Universal

WebP

WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides superior compression compared to PNG and JPEG.

Best for: Modern web applications, when file size is critical
Compression: Lossy or lossless
Transparency: Yes
Browser Support: Good (all modern browsers, not IE)

AVIF

AVIF is the newest format, offering even better compression than WebP while maintaining high quality.

Best for: Cutting-edge web applications, maximum compression
Compression: Lossy or lossless
Transparency: Yes
Browser Support: Growing (Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16+)

Choosing the Right Format

Use our Image Format Recommender to get intelligent recommendations based on your specific use case. Generally:

Icons and logos: SVG
Screenshots: PNG
Photographs: WebP or JPG
Modern web apps: WebP or AVIF with fallbacks