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Are you concerned about your website’s performance and PageSpeed Insights score? Optimizing your images with next-gen image formats could be the solution you need. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of these formats and show you how to implement them to improve your site’s loading speed and user experience.
What Are Next-Gen Image Formats?
Next-gen image formats are designed to provide better image compression and quality while reducing file size. Two prominent formats that stand out are AVIF and WebP, both offering superior compression and image quality compared to older formats like JPEG and PNG.
Switching to AVIF or WebP can significantly speed up image loading times on your website while reducing mobile data consumption. This leads to a smoother, more cost-effective user experience.
AVIF
- Browser support: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
- File size: Smaller compared to JPEG or PNG, with similar quality settings
WebP
- Browser support: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera
- Compression quality: Better web image compression
How to Use the AVIF Format
1. Convert Images to AVIF
To begin using AVIF, you’ll need to convert your existing images. Tools like Squoosh or the command-line encoder avifenc can help you convert PNG and JPEG images into AVIF format. For larger projects, using avifenc may be more efficient for bulk image conversion.
2. Integrating AVIF Images on Your Website
For custom websites, you can integrate AVIF images using the HTML <picture> tag. Here’s an example:
<html>
<head>
<title>AVIF Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<picture>
<source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif"/>
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Image description"/>
</picture>
</body>
</html>This code allows browsers that support AVIF to load the AVIF image, while others will fallback to the JPEG image.
WordPress Integration
If you are using WordPress, you can install a plugin like Converter for Media, which will automatically convert your standard JPEG, PNG, and GIF images to AVIF format, reducing the size without additional effort on your part.
PrestaShop Integration
With PrestaShop 8.1 and above, AVIF support is built in, allowing you to import AVIF images directly. For older versions, you can either upgrade or modify the source code to enable AVIF image integration manually.
How to Use the WebP Format
1. Convert Images to WebP
Converting images to WebP can be done using online tools such as Convertio or command-line utilities like cwebp. The latter allows you to convert PNG and JPEG images to WebP format efficiently.
2. Integrating WebP Images on Your Website
Just like AVIF, WebP can be integrated into custom websites with the following code:
<html>
<head>
<title>WebP Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<picture>
<source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Image description">
</picture>
</body>
</html>WordPress Integration
Since WordPress 5.8, WebP is natively supported, allowing you to directly upload WebP images. You can also use a plugin like Performance Lab to automatically convert images to WebP during the upload process.
PrestaShop Integration
PrestaShop 8.1 and later versions include native support for WebP. For older versions, you can use plugins like Google WebP Image Generator to manage and integrate WebP images more easily.
Pro Tip for Next-Gen Image Formats
In conclusion, using next-gen image formats like AVIF and WebP can dramatically enhance your website’s performance by reducing file sizes while maintaining image quality. If you’re serious about optimizing your site, consider these formats to boost loading speeds and user satisfaction.
Adopting next-gen image formats is a smart move to improve your site’s performance metrics and user experience, helping you stay competitive in today’s fast-paced digital environment.