Do you want to make your website as fast as possible? Not sure how to decide between PNG vs JPG for web use?
Believe it or not, most web users will leave a page that takes more than 3 seconds to load. This means that you should do everything you can to improve website speed. One of the best ways to do this is to use the right type of image compression.
In this guide, we’ll help you decide whether to use JPG or PNG image compression for your website.
What is a JPG File?
A JPG (or JPEG) is a type of file that is commonly used on websites and is especially useful for photography.
JPEG compression is “lossy” and there may be a noticeable change in the quality of the photo. However, it still works well for most purposes. JPG files are especially useful for websites because they have small file sizes and load quickly.
JPG files tend to be the best choice for photos, but may not be a good option for certain types of graphics. This is because there are sharp contrasts between pixels that will often be noticeable.
What is a PNG File?
A PNG file is another type of file that is used for images. PNG files have “lossless” compression and retain all data within the file.
A PNG file can hold more information than a JPG file and is a good choice if you’re not worried about having larger file sizes. However, they may not load as quickly. The file type was originally created to be a replacement for the GIF file format.
There are several advantages of using PNG files. One of the benefits is that PNG files can have transparent backgrounds. This isn’t the case with JPG files.
Because of the transparent backgrounds, PNG may be the perfect file type for graphics and logos.
Which Should You Use On Your Website?
Deciding whether to use a JPEG or PNG file for any given purpose is really a matter of personal preference. As a rule of thumb, however, JPG files tend to be the better choice for photos while PNG files tend to be better suited for graphics and logos.
For many purposes, the difference between JPG and PNG files won’t be very noticeable. JPG vs PNG quality and speed are often about the same.
You’ll want to think about the purposes of the different images that you’re using on your website and plan accordingly. You may find that using a combination of both is the best option.
Fortunately, you can always change your mind when working with PNG and JPG files. It’s very easy to convert png to jpg if necessary.
Understanding the Difference Between PNG Vs JPG
If you’re trying to decide whether to use PNG vs JPG files on your website, be sure to remember the tips above. Using a combination of both will usually be the best option and will help you balance quality and speed.
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