Tutorial
How to compress images without losing quality
A deep dive into modern image compression: WebP vs AVIF vs JPEG, mozjpeg tuning, and when to use each format.
PSPriya Sharma8 min read
How to compress images without losing quality
Modern image compression has come a long way from the JPEG of 1992. This guide walks through the formats that matter in 2026, when to reach for each, and how to get the best results in the browser.
The format landscape
- JPEG — still the baseline. Works everywhere.
- WebP — 25-35% smaller than JPEG at similar quality. 98% browser support.
- AVIF — 50% smaller than JPEG. Rapid adoption since 2023.
Practical workflow
Compress on upload, serve modern formats via <picture>.
PS
Priya Sharma
Engineering writer covering AI tools, image processing, and web performance. Former SWE at a Y Combinator startup.