A WEBP file is an image saved in the WebP (pronounced "Weppy") raster image format developed by Google for web graphics. The WebP format reduces file size more than standard JPEG compression while maintaining similar or better image quality. It supports both lossy and lossless compression and includes an alpha channel for transparency, similar to .PNG.
WEBP file open in Google Chrome 75
The WebP format is based on a technology developed by On2 Technologies, which was acquired by Google in 2009. The format features a container based on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) and was introduced in 2010.
As of 2019, WEBP files are supported by most web browsers, except for Apple Safari and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
If you come across a WEBP file, you can view it with Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Microsoft Edge. Several graphics editors can open and save WebP files, such as Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, Image Magick, and IrfanView.
NOTE: Microsoft Photos may not recognize image files with a ".webp" extension. However, it may be possible to open a WebP image file with Microsoft Photos by changing the file extension to ".jpg." This does not change the internal formatting of the WebP file, but it allows Photos to recognize it as an image file.
