Google Search has announced that it now supports the AVIF image format across its various services, including Google Images, Google Discover, and Google News. John Mueller, a Google Search Advocate, confirmed this update, stating that AVIF files are now fully integrated into Google’s image processing systems.
What is AVIF?
The AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) is an open, royalty-free image format designed for storing images or image sequences compressed with the AV1 video codec, within the HEIF container format. It stands as a competitor to HEIC, which utilizes the same container format but relies on HEVC for compression.
Google highlights that AVIF is rapidly becoming a widely adopted image format. “AVIF is based on the AV1 video compression standard,” the company stated, emphasizing its growing presence in the digital image landscape.
Implications for SEO
From an SEO perspective, the integration of AVIF support does not necessitate any additional actions from users. Google has assured that AVIF images will be processed and indexed similarly to other image formats. “There is no need to take extra steps for AVIF files to be indexed,” Mueller confirmed.
This support was initially hinted at by Google in March 2024 and has now been officially rolled out.
Additional Details
Mueller elaborated that AVIF is supported by all major web browsers and platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, and CloudFlare. While Google supports AVIF files, he advises against making wholesale changes to image formats without proper evaluation. If you decide to convert some images to AVIF and this leads to changes in filenames or extensions, ensure you implement server-side redirects to maintain SEO integrity.
Why This Matters
For those previously using workarounds for AVIF support, Google’s native integration eliminates the need for such measures. You can now remove any temporary solutions you were using. It is advisable to monitor your Search Performance reports to confirm that Google is processing your AVIF images correctly going forward.
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