Image MIME Reference
JPEG
JPEG Image
image/jpeg
VS
WebP Image
image/webp
WebP
A complete technical comparison of JPEG Image and WebP Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | JPEG | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | ✕ No | Yes |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | Yes |
| Progressive Loading | Yes | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
JPEG Image
image/jpeg
Extension
.jpg.jpeg.jpe.jfif
Container
JFIF / Exif
Compression
Lossy
Algorithm
DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform)
Color Depth
8-bit
Developed by
Joint Photographic Experts Group
Released
1992
Magic Bytes
FF D8 FF
WebP Image
image/webp
Extension
.webp
Container
RIFF
Compression
Lossy / Lossless
Algorithm
VP8VP8L
Color Depth
8-bit
Developed by
Google
Released
2010
Magic Bytes
52 49 46 46 XX XX XX XX 57 45 42 50
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | JPEG | WebP |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✓ All
|
✓ 32+
|
Firefox
|
✓ All
|
✓ 65+
|
Safari
|
✓ All
|
✓ 14+
|
Edge
|
✓ All
|
✓ 18+
|
IE (Legacy)
|
✓
|
✕ |
JPEG
JPEG Strengths
- Universal support — every browser, OS, and application handles JPEG
- Excellent compression for complex photographs with natural color gradients
- Rich metadata support: EXIF (GPS, camera settings), ICC color profiles
Limitations
- No transparency — cannot have a transparent background
- Lossy compression introduces visible artifacts on sharp edges and text
- No animation support
WebP
WebP Strengths
- Superior lossy compression — 25–35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
- Supports both animation and full alpha transparency
- Lossless mode available with smaller file sizes than PNG
Limitations
- Slower encoding than JPEG, especially for lossless
- Not supported in Internet Explorer or very old browsers
When to choose which format
JPEG
Use JPEG when…
- Photography
- Websites
- Social Media
WebP
Use WebP when…
- Websites
- Ecommerce
- Mobile Apps
- CMS Images