Google restores much-missed JPEG XL format to Chromium code base - better image compression and better bandwidth are on the way

• JPEG XL decoding is now part of Chromium’s core rendering pipeline
• Rust-based decoding addresses long-standing browser memory safety concerns
• JPEG XL support arrives without extensions or external browser plugins

Google has reinstated support for the JPEG XL image format in the open source Chromium code base, reversing a decision it made in 2022 to remove it.

The update allows Chromium to recognize, decode, and render JPEG XL images directly, without extensions or external components.

This change applies at the browser engine level, meaning it will affect future versions of Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers when they are released.