TL;DR
A recent Chromium commit adds a JPEG XL (JXL) decoder to the open-source code base, reversing Google's 2022 decision to remove experimental support. The integration uses a memory-safe Rust decoder (jxl-rs) and paves the way for Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers to handle JXL images.
What happened
Google has committed code to integrate a JPEG XL (JXL) image decoder into the Chromium repository, effectively reversing a 2022 decision to abandon the format. The change enables Chromium-based browsers, including future releases of Google Chrome, to decode and present JXL images. JXL began as a proposal in 2017, merged ideas from FLIF and Google's PIK, and was standardized as ISO/IEC 18181 in 2021 with a 2024 revision. Chrome and Firefox had experimental JXL support behind flags in 2021; Chrome dropped that experimental support in 2022, citing limited ecosystem interest and modest incremental benefit, and to reduce maintenance work. Industry parties including Intel, Adobe, Cloudinary, Facebook, The Guardian and Shopify expressed continued interest. Apple added JXL support to WebKit for Safari 17 in 2023, Microsoft added JXL to Windows 11 (24H2) in March 2025, and a Rust-based decoder (jxl-rs) has been developed and integrated into Chromium to address safety and maintenance concerns.
Why it matters
- Supporters say JXL can recompress existing JPEGs to be roughly 20% smaller, which could reduce bandwidth for sites and CDNs if broadly adopted.
- JXL proponents highlight features like progressive decoding and combined lossy and lossless modes that could improve web image delivery and archival workflows.
- Integrating a memory-safe Rust decoder (jxl-rs) addresses prior concerns about the large C++ reference decoder and may lower maintenance and security risks.
- Revived Chromium support could encourage wider ecosystem adoption by making JXL images viewable in major Chromium-based browsers.
Key facts
- A Chromium commit has added and enabled a JPEG XL (JXL) decoder in the open-source Chromium code base.
- The commit signals that future releases of Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers will include code to process JXL images.
- JPEG XL was standardized as ISO/IEC 18181 in 2021 and revised in 2024; work started from proposals in 2017 and efforts to combine FLIF and PIK.
- Google previously implemented experimental JXL support behind a flag in 2021, then removed it in 2022 citing lack of ecosystem interest and limited incremental benefit.
- Many companies — including Intel, Adobe, Cloudinary, Facebook, The Guardian and Shopify — expressed interest in broader JXL support after Chrome's 2022 removal.
- Intel's principal engineer argued JXL is suitable for HDR still images and wide color gamuts, and highlighted its progressive and lossless capabilities.
- Apple added JXL support to WebKit for Safari 17 in June 2023, and Microsoft added JXL support in Windows 11 version 24H2 in March 2025.
- Mozilla indicated it would consider adopting JXL once a Rust-based decoder was available; the Rust decoder jxl-rs has been under development and is being integrated.
- The Chromium integration uses a memory-safe Rust decoder (jxl-rs), a change Google signaled on the Blink mailing list prior to the commit.
What to watch next
- Chromium and Google Chrome release notes and schedules for when the integrated JXL decoder reaches stable channels (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether Mozilla proceeds with JXL adoption now that a Rust-based decoder exists, given earlier statements tying adoption to a memory-safe implementation (not confirmed in the source).
- Real-world performance, compatibility, and tooling around JXL image creation, conversion, and CDN delivery as ecosystem testing expands (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- JPEG XL (JXL): A modern image file format designed for improved lossy and lossless compression, progressive rendering, and support for wide color gamuts.
- Chromium: The open-source browser project that forms the basis for Google Chrome and many other browsers.
- Decoder: Software that reads an encoded file format and reconstructs the image or other original data for display or processing.
- Rust: A programming language that emphasizes memory safety and concurrency, often used to reduce security vulnerabilities compared with unmanaged languages.
- Progressive decoding: An image-loading technique that prioritizes rendering of salient elements first so users see a usable preview before full detail is available.
Reader FAQ
Will Chrome now display JPEG XL images?
Yes — the Chromium commit adds a JXL decoder to the code base, and the source says future Chrome and Chromium-based releases will include the code to process JXL images.
Why did Google remove JXL support in 2022?
Google said in 2022 there was insufficient ecosystem interest and the format did not offer enough incremental benefit to enable by default; maintenance burden was also cited.
Is the integrated decoder memory-safe?
The integration uses jxl-rs, a Rust-based decoder described as memory-safe in source reporting.
Has the wider web ecosystem adopted JXL?
Several companies and projects have expressed interest or added support — examples include Apple (WebKit), Microsoft (Windows 11), and various vendors — but full ecosystem adoption is not confirmed in the source.
SOFTWARE Google rekindles relationship with jilted JPEG XL image format Chromium commit adds support for image decoder after the Big G ditched it a few years back Thomas Claburn Wed 14 Jan 2026…
Sources
- Google rekindles relationship with jilted JPEG XL image format
- Google Looks To Bring JPEG-XL Support Back To Chrome / Chromium
- Google's Chromium team decides it will add JPEG XL …
- Chrome to support much smaller, faster images as JPEG …
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