Raster vs Vector for Web — Which Format to Use
For logos and icons: SVG vector. For photos and complex images: WebP raster. For decorative illustrations: depends on complexity. Here's the decision framework.
When to Use SVG (Vector) on the Web
SVG is the right choice for specific types of web graphics.
- Logos: SVG looks sharp at any screen resolution — retina, 4K, mobile
- Icons and UI elements: SVG icons scale perfectly and support CSS theming
- Simple illustrations: flat-design illustrations, charts, diagrams
- Animations: CSS-animated SVG is smooth and lightweight
- Interactive graphics: SVG supports JavaScript interaction natively
When to Use Raster (PNG/WebP/JPEG) on the Web
Raster formats are better for complex visual content.
- Photography: WebP at 80% quality is 30–50% smaller than JPEG with same visual quality
- Complex illustrations with many colors: WebP may be smaller than detailed SVG
- Product images: WebP for e-commerce product photos
- Screenshots and UI mockups: PNG or WebP (SVG conversion adds no value)
- Social media images: WebP or JPEG — SVG not accepted by most social platforms
Frequently Asked Questions
Should my website logo be SVG or PNG?
SVG — always for logos. SVG logos look sharp on retina displays, scale to any size without a separate 2x file, and are typically 5–20KB vs 50–200KB for equivalent PNG. Use inline SVG or <img src='logo.svg'> with a PNG fallback for older browsers.
When should I convert a PNG to SVG for web use?
Convert to SVG when: it's a logo, icon, or simple illustration; it needs to scale across device sizes; you want CSS color control. Don't convert to SVG when: it's a photo; it has complex textures; the SVG would be larger than the optimized WebP.
Does SVG hurt Core Web Vitals?
Large inline SVG can increase HTML document size and delay LCP. Best practice: externalize SVG files larger than 10KB (<img src='logo.svg'>), optimize SVGs with SVGOMG, and use <link rel='preload'> for above-the-fold SVG images.
Is WebP better than SVG for a website background image?
For photographic or complex pattern backgrounds: WebP is better. For simple geometric or flat-color pattern backgrounds: SVG is better — an SVG pattern tile scales without loss and is often a few KB. The right format depends on the specific background design.
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