JPEG XL (JXL)
Also known as: JXL, jpeg xl file, jxl format
JPEG XL (JXL) is a modern image format designed to replace JPEG, offering both lossy and lossless compression, transparency, animation, and high dynamic range. It can store images at notably smaller sizes than JPEG at similar quality, but browser and app support is still limited.
- Lossy and lossless, with transparency and HDR
- Smaller than JPEG at similar quality
- Support across browsers and apps is still limited
What JPEG XL improves on
JPEG XL was created to do everything JPEG and PNG do, more efficiently. It supports lossy and lossless compression, an alpha channel for transparency, animation, and wide color and HDR — all in one format.
For photos, JXL can reach smaller file sizes than JPEG at comparable quality, which means a media library takes less space. It can also re-pack existing JPEG files losslessly to shrink them without re-encoding the image.
Why you rarely see it yet
Despite its strengths, support is uneven. Some browsers and operating systems read JXL while others do not, so it has not replaced JPEG, HEIC, or WebP for everyday sharing.
For now, treat JXL as a promising archival and storage format rather than a universal one. Convert to JPEG or PNG when you need a file that opens anywhere.