Does WebP support transparency?

Image API
1

I can convert all my images to WebP using ImageKit. But some of the logos I have have a transparent background? If I convert them to WebP, will the transparency be maintained or will I end up getting a black or white background like a JPEG image?

2

WebP supports transparency. If you convert a PNG image with transparency to WebP using the f-webp parameter, transparency would be retained.

Even if you use auto format optimization for images, if the input image contains a transparency, it would be retained in the output WebP image.

3

Yes, ImageKit preserves transparency when converting images—like logos or icons with transparent backgrounds—to the WebP format.

Why Does Transparency Remain Intact?

WebP is a modern image format that supports alpha transparency, much like PNG. This means transparent areas in your source image (e.g., PNG ) will remain transparent after conversion to WebP. You won’t end up with a black or white background as you might with JPEG, which does not support transparency.

Whether you convert images to WebP using one of the following methods, transparency will be retained:

Original Transparent Image:

https://ik.imagekit.io/ikmedia/docs_images/product_image_1.png
  • Automatic Format Conversion (f-auto):
    ImageKit automatically selects the most suitable format for the user’s device and browser when the “Use best format for image delivery” setting is enabled in the dashboard or when the f-auto parameter is used in the image URL. If the original image contains transparency, ImageKit ensures that it is preserved by delivering the image in a format that supports transparency—such as WebP.
https://ik.imagekit.io/ikmedia/docs_images/product_image_1.png?tr=f-auto
  • Forced Format Conversion (f-webp):

You can manually convert the image to WebP by appending the format parameter f-webp in the transformation string. Transparency will still remain intact.

https://ik.imagekit.io/ikmedia/docs_images/product_image_1.png?tr=f-webp