What is Image Compression?
Image compression is the process of reducing image file sizes through techniques that remove unnecessary data while maintaining acceptable visual quality, enabling faster page loads without sacrificing user experience. Proper compression directly improves Core Web Vitals metrics like Largest Contentful Paint, making it essential for both search rankings and user satisfaction on image-heavy sites.
Ecommerce SEO Glossary > On-Page SEO > Image Compression
What You Need to Know about Image Compression
Lossy vs Lossless Methods
Lossy compression permanently removes image data to achieve smaller files, ideal for photographs where minor quality loss is imperceptible. Lossless compression preserves all original data, working better for graphics and logos that require perfect detail retention.
Format Selection Strategy
Modern formats like WebP and AVIF deliver superior compression compared to traditional JPEG and PNG, often reducing file sizes 25-50% without visible quality loss. Format choice depends on browser support requirements and image characteristics like transparency needs.
Quality Balance Optimization
Finding the optimal compression level balances file size reduction against visual quality degradation. Most photographs maintain excellent quality at 80-85% compression, while pushing too far creates visible artifacts that harm user experience.
Automated Compression Tools
Image optimization tools like TinyPNG, ImageOptim, and built-in CMS plugins automate compression at scale. These tools apply appropriate compression settings based on image type, removing manual optimization burden while ensuring consistent quality standards.
Responsive Image Considerations
Serving appropriately sized images for different devices through srcset attributes prevents loading oversized files on mobile. Combining compression with responsive images maximizes speed benefits, particularly important given Google’s mobile-first indexing approach.
Core Web Vitals Impact
Large uncompressed images delay Largest Contentful Paint, the primary Core Web Vitals metric measuring loading performance. Compressed images load faster, improving LCP scores that directly correlate with search rankings and user engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Image Compression
1. What’s the best image format for SEO?
WebP offers the best compression-to-quality ratio for most images, with broad browser support and significant file size reductions. Use AVIF for even better compression when browser support allows, falling back to optimized JPEG for compatibility.
2. How much can you compress images without quality loss?
Lossless compression typically reduces files 10-20%, while lossy compression at 80-85% quality achieves 50-70% reduction with imperceptible quality loss for most photographs. Testing specific images helps find the optimal balance.
3. Does image compression affect image search rankings?
Compression doesn’t directly affect image search rankings, but faster-loading pages improve overall site performance and user experience. Better Core Web Vitals from compressed images can indirectly benefit rankings across all search types.
4. Should you compress images before uploading to CMS?
Pre-compressing images before upload ensures optimal file sizes and prevents serving unnecessarily large files. While many CMS platforms offer automatic compression, manual optimization typically achieves better results and maintains more control over quality.
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