┌─ FILE ANALYSIS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┐
│ DEVELOPER : Google
│ CATEGORY : Image
│ MIME TYPE : image/webp
│ MAGIC BYTES : 52494646????????57454250
└ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┘
What is a WebP file?
WebP is an image format developed by Google in 2010, designed to provide superior compression compared to JPEG and PNG. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency, and animation — all in a single format.
How to open WebP files
- All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 14+)
- Windows 10/11 — Native support via Photos app
- Preview (macOS Ventura+) — Built-in
- GIMP (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Free, open-source
- IrfanView (Windows) — Free viewer
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy (VP8) and Lossless (VP8L) |
| Color Depth | 8-bit per channel (24/32-bit) |
| Transparency | Full alpha channel support |
| Animation | Supported |
| Max Dimensions | 16,383 × 16,383 pixels |
| Container | RIFF-based |
Common use cases
- Web performance: 25-34% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
- App assets: Smaller bundle sizes for mobile apps
- E-commerce: Faster product image loading
- Progressive web apps: Optimal format for PWA images