JPEG XL
JPEG XL is a next-generation format designed to replace JPEG, with better compression and a truly lossless mode.
- File extension
- .jxl
- MIME type
- image/jxl
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Yes, full alpha channel
- Animation
- Yes
- Type
- Raster (pixels)
Where JPEG XL files come from
Photography workflows and archival projects experimenting with next-gen formats.
Safari supports it; Chrome and Firefox currently do not ship it by default. Treat it as a storage format, not a sharing one.
What JPEG XL is good at
- Beats JPG substantially at every quality level
- Can losslessly recompress existing JPGs about 20% smaller
- Supports HDR, wide gamut, high bit depth and progressive decoding
Where JPEG XL falls short
- Browser support is still limited and contested
- Very little support in consumer software
- Files you produce today may not open on someone else’s machine
Should you use JPEG XL?
Use it for photographs, where its compression is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Avoid it for screenshots, diagrams and anything containing text — flat colour and sharp edges are precisely what lossy compression handles worst.
Convert from JPEG XL
Convert to JPEG XL
Frequently asked questions
What is JPEG XL?
JPEG XL is a next-generation format designed to replace JPEG, with better compression and a truly lossless mode. Safari supports it; Chrome and Firefox currently do not ship it by default. Treat it as a storage format, not a sharing one.
How do I open JPEG XL files?
Any tool that lists JXL support will open one. If yours will not, the quickest fix is to convert it to a format your software already understands — the converters linked on this page do that in your browser without uploading the file.
Is JPEG XL lossy or lossless?
JPEG XL is lossy: it discards detail the eye is unlikely to notice in exchange for a much smaller file. Every re-save loses a little more, so keep an untouched original if the image matters.
Does JPEG XL support transparency?
Yes, JPEG XL carries a full alpha channel, so soft edges and drop shadows survive intact. Converting to a format without alpha — JPG most commonly — flattens those areas onto a solid colour.