Google Search now helps AVIF file codecs

Google Search lastly helps the AVIF file format in Google Search, Google Pictures and all places Google Search exhibits photographs comparable to Google Uncover, Google Information and so forth. “We’re pleased to announce that AVIF is now a supported file kind in Google Search, for Google Pictures in addition to anywhere that makes use of photographs in Google Search,” John Mueller, Google Search Advocate, wrote.

What’s AVIF. AV1 Picture File Format is an open, royalty-free picture file format specification for storing photographs or picture sequences compressed with AV1 within the HEIF container format. It competes with HEIC, which makes use of the identical container format constructed upon ISOBMFF, however HEVC for compression.

Google stated it is without doubt one of the principally broadly used picture codecs right now. “AVIF is an open picture file format primarily based on the AV1 video compression commonplace,” Google added.

What this implies for website positioning. Technically nothing. Google stated, if you’re utilizing AVIF codecs, you don’t have to do something, Google will now course of them and use them like they might different picture codecs. “You don’t have to do something particular to have your AVIF recordsdata listed by Google,” John Mueller wrote.

In March 2024, Google hinted this assist was coming quickly and now it’s right here.

You may see the total checklist of supported picture file varieties over right here.

Extra particulars. Mueller wrote:

“AVIF is an open picture file format primarily based on the AV1 video compression commonplace. It’s supported by all main net browsers, and pictures in AVIF picture file format are supported by quite a lot of providers and platforms on the internet, together with WordPress, Joomla, and CloudFlare. It’s not really helpful to blindly make sweeping modifications to photographs throughout an internet site: take the time you want to consider which format works finest on your particular wants. Should you do select to alter picture file codecs for a few of your photographs, and if this ends in modifications to filenames or extensions, be certain that to arrange server-side redirects.”

Why we care. In case you are utilizing workarounds for AVIF recordsdata in your websites, you now not have to. Google now natively helps AVIF file varieties in Google Search.

Additionally, any workarounds you’ve gotten, now you can take away.

Be sure that to observe your Search Efficiency studies for any modifications you make round AVIF recordsdata, to make sure Google is processing these photographs correctly going ahead.