What the f*ck is PNG and why does everyone use it...

Ajouté : 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]What the [ __ ] is PNG and why does everyone use it? PNG, also known as Portable Network Graphics, is a lossless image format that uses the same compression logic as a zip file. While formats like WebP and AVIF are technically better, in 2026, everyone still defaults to PNG because it is the only format that works perfectly every time on every single device on Earth.

[00:00:19]The secret is the alpha channel. Before PNG, the internet used GIFs, which were limited to only 256 colors and had jagged edges. PNG introduced 32-bit color and true transparency, allowing you to have soft glowing edges on a logo that can sit on top of any background.

[00:00:34]Because it's lossless, you can save a PNG a thousand times and it will never get those crusty artifacts you see on old JPEGs. So, why does everyone use it if the files are so big? Because of zero friction. If you send someone a WebP, half their apps might not open it. If you send a PNG, it works everywhere. It is the safe choice. When you're making a YouTube thumbnail or a high-end UI, you aren't worried about saving 500 kilobytes, you're worried about pixel-perfect clarity. Modern tools now shrink PNGs by up to 70% without losing quality, making the big file argument less relevant. And of course, I had to place here this ad, so don't judge me, please.