Main features of DC JWebP
DC JWebP focuses on one task: making Joomla websites faster by optimizing images globally.
Key features include automatic conversion of JPG and PNG images to WebP format, replacing image paths across the entire HTML output (including images generated by page builders and inline styles), support for both standard image tags and background-image declarations, and native lazy loading using the loading="lazy" attribute without JavaScript.
The plugin supports both local image paths and full URLs, works with Joomla 5 and 6, and is fully compatible with PHP 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3. It is extremely lightweight and does not rely on any external libraries or frameworks. DC JWebP does not modify the database and does not require any changes in the template files.

Configuration options
DC JWebP includes a simple configuration panel in the Joomla administrator area.
Available options allow you to define the WebP image quality (from 0 to 100), exclude selected folders from processing, enable or disable native lazy loading, and prepare the plugin for further extensions such as srcset or picture support in future versions.
All settings are optional – the plugin works out of the box with sensible defaults.

Why WebP format matters
Images are often the heaviest part of a website and can account for 50–70% of total page weight. Google strongly recommends using next-generation image formats such as WebP to improve loading speed and Core Web Vitals.
WebP allows you to maintain very similar visual quality while significantly reducing file size. In practice, this means faster page load times on mobile devices, better Google PageSpeed scores, lower bandwidth usage and improved overall responsiveness.
According to Google PageSpeed recommendations, WebP can reduce image size by 25–35% compared to JPG and by more than 80% compared to PNG for non-transparent images.
Reducing image size has a direct impact on SEO, performance and conversion rates, especially on mobile connections.

How DC JWebP works internally
DC JWebP is designed to work efficiently without blocking Joomla rendering.
The plugin runs during the onAfterRender event, after the page HTML has been fully generated. It scans the final HTML output, detects image tags and background-image declarations, and replaces image paths with WebP versions when available.
Images are converted only once, during the first request. Subsequent page views reuse the already generated WebP files, which keeps server load minimal. Native lazy loading is applied automatically without any JavaScript execution.
As a result, pages load faster, use less data and achieve better PageSpeed scores without affecting site stability.

Compatibility
DC JWebP is fully compatible with Joomla 5 and Joomla 6 and works correctly with Joomla 4 as well. It supports PHP versions from 8.1 to 8.3.
The plugin works with popular page builders and templates such as SP Page Builder, Helix Ultimate, YOOtheme and any custom or Bootstrap-based templates. Since it operates on the final HTML output, it remains independent of the framework or builder used.

Frequently Asked Questions
Does the plugin overwrite original images? No. Original JPG and PNG files remain unchanged. WebP images are created as separate files.
Are WebP images generated on every request? No. Conversion happens only on the first request. After that, existing WebP files are reused.
Does the plugin add lazy loading? Yes. Native loading="lazy" is added automatically without JavaScript.
Does it work with background images? Yes. Inline background-image declarations are detected and replaced.
Does it require JavaScript? No. DC JWebP works entirely on the PHP side.