What Is a Next Gen Format?
Next gen formats refer to new file formats designed to improve digital media’s quality, efficiency, and functionality, specifically on the web and mobile devices. These file formats are the latest and most innovative image, video, and other media formats that offer many benefits over their predecessors, such as improved performance and scalability. They are typically based on advanced compression techniques, enhanced color spaces, and other innovative features that aim to deliver better quality while reducing size.
These next gen formats are important because they provide a better user experience with higher-quality content that loads faster and takes up less storage space. They also enable new features like HDR imaging, 360-degree video, and virtual reality, which were impossible with earlier formats.
The Two Next-Gen Formats
As of right now, there are only two file formats that fall under “next-gen”:
- WebP – Originally created by Google, the WebP format intends to replace old image formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF formats. WebP offers lossy and lossless compression and animation and is supported by most major browsers. However, some software, such as many modern CMS’, don’t support WebP images.
- AVIF – An open-source file format that uses AV1 alongside High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF) as a container. Like WebP, it also aims to replace image formats like JPEG and PNG with a file that offers the same quality but better lossless compression. However, the AVIF format is still not widely supported by browsers at this time.
However, newer formats are on the way, with more poised to bring new features, such as JPEG XL. Overall, next gen formats are essential for delivering high-quality digital media content that is both efficient and functional, enabling new features and improving the overall user experience.
Cloudinary and Next Gen Formats
Cloudinary has been known for working with next-generation formats to optimize asset performance. One of the key features of Cloudinary and why it’s considered a suitable replacement for legacy media platforms (like a Scene7 alternative) is the inclusion of formats like AVIF for images and WebM for video.
If you need a digital media solution that can handle all your compression needs, look no further than Cloudinary. With our Digital Asset Management, you can host and use your media as needed – without the hassle of picking compression options, thanks to the power of Intelligent Automation.
With Cloudinary’s media optimization, we automatically compress images using the optimal encoder for the task. You won’t need to worry about sacrificing image quality for performance – all you need to do is sign up for a free account and try it.
