Google's Chromium project has officially merged JPEG XL support, marking a major victory for the next-generation image format. The change, confirmed in a Chromium code review, reverses a controversial 2021 decision to remove the codec from Chrome. Developers and tech advocates have long argued that JPEG XL offers superior compression and features compared to legacy formats, prompting an organized push for its reinstatement.

This move means future versions of Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Brave will natively handle the format. It provides a viable alternative to both older JPEGs and newer, royalty-contested formats like AVIF. For users, this translates to faster-loading, higher-quality images on the web without needing extensions.

While widespread adoption still depends on web developers and image software, this code merge is the critical first step. The browser war on image formats is back on, and JPEG XL is now a serious contender.