What is JXL (JPEG XL)?
Complete guide to the JXL file format
What is it?
JPEG XL is a next-generation image format designed to be the eventual successor to JPEG. It offers significantly better compression than JPEG while maintaining backward compatibility and supporting modern features.
JXL can losslessly recompress existing JPEG files to about 80% of their original size, and for new images it offers 60% better compression than JPEG at equivalent quality.
Technical Specifications
Pros & Cons
Advantages
60% better compression than JPEG for equivalent quality images.
Can losslessly transcode existing JPEGs to JXL reducing size by ~20%.
HDR, wide color gamut, animation, and transparency in one format.
JXL lossless mode outperforms PNG for photographs.
Disadvantages
Chrome removed JXL support in 2022. Firefox has support behind a flag. Only Safari 17 supports it natively.
JXL encoding at maximum compression is very slow compared to JPEG or WebP.
Most image editors and tools do not yet support JXL format.
Lack of Chrome support has significantly slowed JXL adoption.
When to Use It
Here are the most common situations where JXL (JPEG XL) is the right choice:
Future Web Images
JXL may become the standard web image format once browser support improves.
JPEG Archiving
Use JXL for losslessly recompressing JPEG archives to save storage space.
HDR Photography
JXL is excellent for HDR photography distribution once support improves.
Print Quality Images
JXL's lossless mode is excellent for print-quality image archiving.
Convert Your Files Online - Free
Our free online converter supports all major formats. No software to install, no registration required.
Start Converting NowFrequently Asked Questions
Is JPEG XL better than AVIF?
JXL generally achieves better compression and has more features than AVIF, but AVIF has much better browser support currently.
Does Chrome support JPEG XL?
Chrome removed JXL support in 2022. Safari 17+ supports JXL. Firefox has experimental support.
Should I use JXL for my website?
Not yet - browser support is too limited. Use AVIF or WebP with JPEG fallback for production websites.
What software opens JXL?
GIMP 2.10+, Darktable, and some specialized tools support JXL. Most mainstream editors do not yet.
When will JXL be widely supported?
Browser support timelines are uncertain. AVIF is currently the better choice for modern web images.