.JXL File Extension
JPEG XL Image
| Developer | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Popularity |
4.4 | 50 Votes |
| Category | Raster Image Files |
| Format | Binary |
What is a JXL file?
A JXL file is an image saved in the JPEG XL file format, which was developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). It contains an image, such as a photo, illustration, or screenshot, that has been compressed using JPEG XL compression. The JXL file format is an update to the .JPG and .JPEG file formats.
In the 2010s and early 2020s, a number of organizations responded to the proliferation of Internet-enabled smart devices and responsive web design by introducing new image file formats optimized for web-based display and delivery. For example, the Alliance for Open Media introduced the .AVIF file format, and JPEG introduced the JXL file format.
JXL images are saved using JPEG XL compression, which is an iteration of JPEG compression. According to JPEG's website, JPEG XL "is particularly optimized for responsive web environments, so that content renders well on a wide range of devices." JPEG XL compression allows users to save higher-quality images in smaller-sized files than those produced using JPEG compression. The JPEG XL standard also supports animation, alpha channels, layers, thumbnails, and lossless coding. Most importantly, in contrast to AVIF, .WEBP, and .HEIF images, JXL images can be decoded using progressive decoding, which allows web browsers to show low-quality preview images to users before fully decoding a JXL file.
How to open a JXL file
You can open a JXL file in many image viewers and editors, including ImageMagick, XnViewMP, IrfanView, and GIMP. Some programs may require you to install a related plug-in before you can open JXL files. Also, only some versions of these programs may support JXL files. For example, only the Windows version of XnViewMP currently supports JXL files.
How to convert a JXL file
Most programs that can open JXL files allow you to convert them to other image formats. For example, XnViewMP allows you to export JXL images in the following formats: