After GIF and JPEG, most images now come in AVIF format.
This is more pronounced after Google Chrome, Safari and Microsoft Edge started to support these formats. However, the backend softwares including forums are slow in adopting this format.
Have you noted this? If there are any computer nerds here, can anyone please explain me the benefits of AVIF format?
Do they? I see a lot of sites using WEBP. AVIF isn't fully supported everywhere, so WEBP reigns supreme here. AVIF still needs to catch up with being supported by all browsers. I don't see too many forums using AVIF, as Xenforo and others still use WEBP.
WebP was developed by Google.
AVIF, or AV1 Image File Format, is a relatively new image format based on the AV1 video codec. WebP is an image format developed by Google, it was designed to offer better compression and image quality than JPEG.
cloudinary.com
WebP is an image format developed by Google and introduced in 2010. It was designed to offer better compression and image quality than JPEG while maintaining a similar file size. WebP achieves this by using both lossy and lossless compression techniques, as well as supporting transparency and animations.
WebP is bitstream-compatible with the VP8 video codec and uses the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) as a container format. Its lossy compression is based on an 8-bit Y’CbCr 4:2:0 (YUV420) format, while its lossless compression uses the RGBA color format. These characteristics allow WebP to support transparency with an 8-bit alpha channel, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of images, including those with detailed overlays or logos.
Since its introduction, WebP has gained popularity among web developers and designers, thanks to its impressive compression capabilities and support for modern browsers. As a result, many websites and applications have adopted WebP as their preferred image format, contributing to faster load times and an overall better user experience.
The AVIF image format offers several benefits when compared to older formats like JPEG and PNG, as well as the more recent WebP format. However, it’s not a perfect format, and comes with it’s own pros and cons. Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of using AVIF images:
Pros
- Superior Compression: AVIF achieves smaller file sizes while maintaining quality, outperforming JPEG, PNG, and WebP in compression efficiency.
- Enhanced Image Quality: It delivers superior image quality, especially in scenarios with complex visuals.
- Wide Color Gamut Support: AVIF allows for accurate and vibrant color reproduction, making it ideal for high-quality images.
- Transparency Support: AVIF supports both lossy and lossless compression with transparency features.
- Versatility: It is adaptive, supporting multiple resolutions and varying quality levels.
Cons
- Limited Browser Compatibility: Not all browsers fully support the AVIF format yet.
- High Processing Requirements: Encoding and decoding AVIF images demand significant computing power.
- Software Compatibility Issues: Many popular image editing tools do not yet have native support for AVIF.
- Workflow Adjustments Needed: Transitioning to AVIF requires changes in existing workflows and tools.
