Do you remember the time when the JPEG format dominated the world of digital images? Today, a promising successor, JPEG XL, is making its return in the world’s most popular browser. But why was this format sidelined, and what is driving its comeback? Discover what lies behind this unexpected reintegration.
The 3 key facts not to miss
Google has chosen to reintegrate support for JPEG XL in its Chromium browser engine. This reintegration marks the return of the format for the first time since 2022 in Chrome-based browsers. The decoder engine chosen for this implementation is jxl-rs, which is written in Rust, a programming language known for its safety and performance.
This reintegration is not enabled by default, and users must activate it manually. However, the immediate accessibility of the format from Chrome 110 is a notable advancement. Other browsers are following this trend: Firefox also requires manual activation, while Safari only offers partial support.
Designed to succeed the classic JPEG format, JPEG XL offers many advantages. It allows for a reduction in image size of up to 60% while maintaining intact visual quality. Additionally, the format is quick to decode, making it an attractive option for developers and end users.
Despite these advantages, Google had previously removed experimental support for JPEG XL in 2022, due to limited adoption and growing interest in the AVIF format, also developed by Google. However, pressure from developers and companies like Apple and Mozilla, who have already adopted JPEG XL, led to this reintroduction.
The return of JPEG XL in Chrome is not without reason. The PDF Association recently designated JPEG XL as the preferred option for HDR images in PDF documents starting in late 2025. This reinforces the importance of this format for the future of digital images. Moreover, surveys among developers highlighted that the absence of JPEG XL was a sore point, thus justifying its return.
By reintroducing JPEG XL, Google is once again aligning itself with its competitors and preparing for the ongoing evolution of image format needs.
Launched in 2008, Google Chrome quickly became the most used web browser in the world, thanks to its speed, simplicity, and integration with Google services. Based on the open-source Chromium project, Chrome has often been at the forefront of innovations in web browsing. However, its dominant position has also required Google to make strategic decisions regarding the formats and technologies to support, particularly in terms of image formats such as JPEG XL and AVIF.