Convert any image to the highly optimized WebP format
WebP isn't just a random image format; it is actually a direct byproduct of modern video compression technology.
Just like AVIF is a single frame of an AV1 video, WebP is essentially a single extracted frame of a VP8 video (the open-source codec that powers WebM and early YouTube).
Engineers realized that the algorithm used to compress a single "Keyframe" in a VP8 video was significantly better at compressing static photos than the ancient JPEG standard.
WebP uses a mathematical technique called Block Prediction. It divides your image into tiny macroblocks (usually 16x16 pixels). Before saving the pixels for a new block, the algorithm looks at the blocks immediately above and to the left of it, and tries to mathematically guess what the current block looks like based on its neighbors.
Because the WebP encoder only has to save the difference between its guess and the actual pixels (the mathematical "residual"), WebP files end up being roughly 25-30% smaller than JPEGs of the exact same visual quality.
Unlike JPEG, WebP also supports full alpha transparency, making it a vastly superior replacement for heavy PNG files on modern websites.
Where did the WebP image format originally come from?
