Image Formats Explained: PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, and More

Two families of image formats

Every image file is one of two kinds. Raster images are grids of pixels — photographs and most graphics. Vector images are sets of shapes described mathematically, which can scale to any size without blurring. Almost every format below is raster; SVG is the one vector format.

Among raster formats, the other key split is lossy versus lossless. Lossy formats discard detail to shrink the file; lossless formats keep every pixel exactly. Here are the common formats and what they are for.

JPG (JPEG)

The classic photo format. Lossy, no transparency, and supported by absolutely everything. Three decades old and still the universal choice for photographs that need to open anywhere. Compare it in PNG vs JPG.

PNG

Lossless, with full transparency. The right choice for logos, icons, screenshots, and any graphic with sharp edges or text. Poor for photographs, where it produces very large files.

WebP

Google's modern format. Lossy or lossless, supports transparency and animation, and 25-35% smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality. The default for images on a modern website. See what a WebP file is.

AVIF

The newest mainstream format, based on the AV1 video codec. Compresses even smaller than WebP and supports HDR and wide color, but is slower to encode. See AVIF vs WebP.

GIF

Old and limited — a maximum of 256 colors per frame — but still used for short, simple animations. For anything richer, WebP is smaller and sharper.

SVG

The vector format. Instead of pixels, an SVG stores shapes, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size and is tiny for simple graphics. Ideal for logos and icons; useless for photographs. Clean one up with an SVG optimizer.

HEIC

Apple's high-efficiency format, the default on iPhones. About half the size of a JPG, but barely supported outside Apple devices — browsers cannot display it. See HEIC vs JPG.

BMP and ICO

BMP is an old, essentially uncompressed format that produces huge files — rarely the right choice today. ICO is the Windows icon container, used mainly for the favicon shown in a browser tab.

A quick reference

Converting between formats

You can move an image between formats freely. The image converter handles common conversions; for the web specifically, JPG to WebP and PNG to WebP are the most useful. Every conversion runs in your browser, with nothing uploaded.

To choose the right format for a given job, see the best image format for the web.

Frequently asked questions