AVIF: The revolutionary new image format adopted by Google

Google now includes the AVIF image format in its search results, a major step forward that could transform the way we optimize our websites for performance and user experience (UX). Indeed, AVIF allows to significantly reduce the size of image files while preserving high image quality. This could well convince you to use this format to boost your web performance and improve your organic SEO.

source: corewebvitals.io

Why adopt AVIF?

  • Reducing file size : AVIF can dramatically reduce image sizes by up to 50% compared to traditional formats like JPEG, resulting in faster page load times.
  • Improved Core Web Vitals : Reducing page sizes optimizes Core Web Vitals, which are essential for SEO.
  • Increasing compatibility : Major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari) already support AVIF. In addition, popular CMS like WordPress and Joomla are starting to integrate it:  WordPress supports AVIF images
  • No changes required for indexing : Google automatically indexes AVIF images, making them easier for webmasters to integrate.See insights from the Chrome Dev Summit on AVIF and web performance.

Google and AVIF: A new era for web images

Google recently announced the'integration of AVIF format into its search results, marking a turning point in website optimization. Google's decision, confirmed in April 2024, responds to a growing demand for more efficient formats capable of reducing page loading times and thus improving the user experience.

What is AVIF?

AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) is a next-generation image compression format that offers multiple benefits:

  • Superior Compression: Up to 50% more efficient than JPEG or PNG formats.
  • Transparency and animation support: Ideal for various types of web content.
  • Wide dynamic range and better black depth: This allows you to produce exceptional quality images, without affecting the performance of the site.

Improve your SEO with AVIF

Site performance, especially loading speed, plays a crucial role in user experience and SEO. With Core Web Vitals, Google measures the quality of UX, and this is where AVIF makes a significant difference. Reducing image sizes allows for faster loading, improving key metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), which measures how quickly the main content of a page is displayed. A better LCP often translates into higher rankings in search results.

AVIF vs WebP: Which to Choose?

While WebP has long been the preferred format for optimizing images on the web, AVIF could well replace it. Why?

  • Better compression: AVIF offers greater size reduction with minimal quality loss.
  • WebP remains useful for lossless images, but AVIF is now the optimal choice for most common web uses. With increasing adoption by browsers and CMSs, AVIF seems set to become the standard in the near future.

Growing adoption of AVIF format

The adoption of AVIF continues to grow. Many browsers and CMS now support this format, making it easier for developers and site owners to use. Plus, since Google automatically indexes AVIF images, there is nothing to change in the site configuration to take advantage of it.

Statistics on the growing adoption of AVIF by browsers and CMS.

For those looking to improve their site's performance, integrating AVIF images is a simple and effective solution, without requiring additional efforts to be taken into account by Google in the SERPs.

 

Rossitza Mavreau, Lead Traffic Manager SEO SEA Analytics at UX-Republic