The Journey of WebP and Safari: Why Safari Still Lags in WebP Support

WebP, a modern image format, has been revolutionizing web design with its high compression rates and dynamic capabilities. However, not all browsers support WebP, particularly Safari. This article explores the history, current state, and potential reasons behind Safari's stance on WebP support. We will also analyze the differences between WebP and HEIF, Apple's preferred format.

Introduction to WebP

WebP is a new image format developed by Google, introduced in 2010. It aims to provide lossless and lossy compression, effectively replacing the widely used JPEG and PNG formats. WebP supports both static and animated images, making it a versatile choice for web developers and designers.

Popular Support for WebP

WebP has gained significant traction in the web ecosystem, supported by popular browsers such as Chrome, Opera, Android, and Mozilla Firefox. These browsers not only support WebP but often prioritize it for its superior performance and smaller file size. The widespread support for WebP has made it a standard for enhancing web page loading times and overall user experience.

Why Safari Does Not Support WebP

Despite the benefits of WebP, Safari, the popular web browser developed by Apple, does not currently support it. Apple decided to use its own image format, HEIF, instead. This decision stems from several factors, including Apple's preference for standards that are freely accessible and available internationally.

Apple's Decision and its Implications

Apple’s Preference for HEIF: Apple adopted HEIF, or High Efficiency Image Format, which is not only a competing format to WebP but is also more in line with Apple's commitment to creating proprietary, high-quality standards. HEIF offers excellent compression similar to WebP but with additional features specific to Apple's device ecosystem.

International Standard Preference: Apple maintains a strong stance on using international standards. WebP is not an official standard and is owned by Google, which could be seen as making it less attractive to Apple. By supporting HEIF, Apple ensures that its guidelines are accessible to developers and users globally, without any proprietary restrictions.

Apple’s Announcement and Its Context

There has been a common misunderstanding that Safari only began supporting WebP with version 14. In reality, Apple added WebP support starting with macOS Big Sur version 11 and iOS 14. This support was not driven by Google's decision not to charge for WebP, but rather by Apple's own initiative to improve web browsing experiences.

Key Differences Between WebP and HEIF

Compression Quality: Both WebP and HEIF offer high-quality compression, but WebP tends to compress images slightly more efficiently. HEIF, however, offers additional features such as multi-layer support, which can be advantageous for certain multimedia applications.

Usage Context: WebP is widely supported in environments where you have control over the web server and client, such as personal blogs or company websites. HEIF is more prevalent on Apple devices due to its integration with the operating system and hardware.

Conclusion

While Safari does not currently support WebP, it is essential to understand the reasoning behind this decision. Safari has adopted its own HEIF format, reflecting Apple's commitment to proprietary, high-efficiency standards and international accessibility. As the web evolves, it will be interesting to see how Safari and other browsers integrate new image formats and standards.