Google, Inc. has developed a new image format that minimizes picture sizes to speed up web access.

WebP is the image file format developed by Google to replace existing image formats such as JPEG, GIF and PNG.

WebP's file size is up to 35 percent smaller compared to Ja PEG and 26 percent smaller compared to a PNG. This smaller size speeds-up the loading process and also saves on bandwidth allocation for website operators.

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Google developers said loading times for YouTube videos were 10 percent faster when they converted the majority of the images into WebP.

Google Chrome Web store and Google Play store have also switched to the WebP image format. There are reports that Facebook, Netflix, eBay and several other websites are now using WebP, as well.

WebP was first introduced by Google in 2010, but the program still had some bugs so it didn't become a hit.

Some users had trouble when Netflix first implemented WebP in December when images did not load. Similar problems were also encountered by Facebook users when some thumbnails failed to open.

The image format problems have been resolved. Google said WebP now supports animated photos and thumbnails that could only be viewed with GIF files before.

Google initially wanted to create WebM, which is a video format. Developers later realized that the format is better at compressing single frames, which is basically a picture, said tech blog, GigaOM. 

WebP developers have added a new feature in the image file format and included image editing tools to make it more appealing to users, according to Google.

Other search engine giants like Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft's Internet Explorer do not support WebP because they are planning to develop their own image file format.

TagsWebP, web speed, faster web speed