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Google has restored native support for the JPEG XL image format in the open source Chromium, reversing a decision to remove it in 2022. The update allows the browser engine to directly recognize, decode, and render JPEG XL files without the need for third-party plug-ins or extensions.
The changes have been implemented at the Chromium kernel level, which means they will be available in future versions of Google Chrome and other browsers built on this platform.
The JPEG XL-enabled code has passed the standard verification process and has been integrated into the main Chromium branch. The technical implementation involves connecting the JXLImageDecoder module to the browser’s image processing pipeline. Also, mechanisms for analyzing file signatures for correct format detection and telemetry for evaluating performance in real conditions have been added.
The jxl-rs library implemented in Rust is used for decoding. This choice was made due to the increased requirements for memory security in multi-threaded image processing systems. Integration of the library increases the size of the Chromium binary file by about 406 KB, which the developers consider an acceptable compromise.
The decoder is activated through a build flag that is enabled by default, which allows testing new functionality without additional settings on the part of users.
JPEG XL remains popular among browser manufacturers, web platform developers, and hardware companies. The format allows you to recompress traditional JPEG files without losing quality, reducing their size by about 20% on average. This opens up opportunities to save traffic and improve page loading speeds.
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In addition, JPEG XL supports HDR images, a wide color gamut, progressive decoding, and lossy and lossless modes.
Google’s abandonment of JPEG XL in 2022 drew considerable criticism from the industry. At the time, Chrome developers cited limited ecosystem interest and the complexity of format support. Representatives of Intel, Adobe, Cloudinary, Meta, Shopify, and media companies publicly denied these arguments, emphasizing the technical advantages of JPEG XL.
In recent years, other market players have expanded their support for the format. Apple integrated JPEG XL into Safari via WebKit, Microsoft added support in Windows 11, and standardization bodies updated official specifications.
For end users, the return of JPEG XL means that Chromium-based browsers will be able to display images in this format without additional tools. For developers, this ensures that JXL files are handled correctly on websites and opens up opportunities for more efficient delivery of graphic content.
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