WebP is a modern image format that provides superior compression compared to JPEG and PNG while maintaining visual quality.
19.1 Overview #
When enabled, SpeedyGo:
- Automatically converts eligible images to WebP format
- Serves WebP images to supported browsers
- Falls back to original formats if WebP is not supported
WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than JPEG/PNG equivalents, resulting in faster page loads and reduced bandwidth usage.
Benefits:
- Reduced image payload size
- Faster image delivery
- Improved Core Web Vitals
- Better performance scores
How It Works Internally #
- Detects eligible JPEG and PNG uploads
- Generates corresponding
.webpversions - Stores WebP files inside the uploads directory
- Uses rewrite rules or content negotiation to serve WebP when supported
- Maintains original files (non-destructive conversion)
19.2 Settings #
Enable WebP Conversion #
- Toggle Enable WebP Conversion → ON
Once enabled, SpeedyGo will begin generating WebP versions for newly uploaded and optimized images.
⚠ Server Requirements:
- GD Library (with WebP support) OR
- Imagick with WebP enabled
19.3 Best Practice Recommendation #
- Enable alongside Image Optimization
- Verify WebP delivery using browser DevTools (Network → Content-Type: image/webp)
- Clear cache after enabling for immediate effect
WebP Conversion significantly reduces image size while maintaining high visual quality.