Choosing an image format should begin with the image’s purpose. A photograph, a screenshot, a transparent logo and a vector icon have different needs.
JPG
JPG compresses photographs efficiently using lossy compression. It does not support transparency, and small text or sharp logo edges can develop visible artifacts.
PNG
PNG preserves sharp graphics and supports alpha transparency. It works well for screenshots and icons, but photographic PNG files can be much larger.
WebP and AVIF
Both modern formats can provide efficient compression. WebP supports transparency; AVIF can achieve compact results, although tool and upload support varies. Always test the target application.
SVG is different
SVG represents vector shapes and paths. A genuine vector image can scale without traditional pixelation. Wrapping a JPG inside an SVG file does not convert a raster photograph into vector paths.
Quick choices
- Photos: JPG, WebP or AVIF if accepted.
- Screenshots: PNG.
- Transparent logos: SVG when an original vector exists, otherwise PNG.
- Uploads to a third-party service: follow its accepted-format list.