Part 4/10:
WebP supports both types of compression—lossless and lossy—making it versatile enough to replace both PNG and JPEG in many scenarios. It also supports animated images akin to GIFs, adding to its flexibility. The compression efficiency is backed by Google's extensive research, which evaluated various file types using the Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). This metric assesses how similar two images are, enabling developers to generate WebP images that maintain visual fidelity at reduced sizes.
The format's robust support for high compression ratios means websites can reduce bandwidth usage, load faster, and offer a better user experience. These advantages positioned WebP as a promising format for the future of web graphics.