Nerd facts
How it loads
5. Narrow overview
How the image on this page loads.
Actually loaded
Open media to see the current file.
Photos
Photos are not just one resized JPEG. A good source can become AVIF, WebP, and JPEG fallbacks across several widths, with a tiny placeholder so the layout is stable before the real image arrives.
Some images also keep richer variants such as wide-gamut or deep-colour AVIF. Those stay separate from the everyday fallback path, because a phone screen, a desktop display, and an old browser do not deserve the same file.
AVIF · WebP
Why the variants exist
Browsers, screens, networks, and media types do not agree on one perfect file. The page stays simple, while the saved asset details keep source kind, quality level, preview confidence, dimensions, format, and fallback intent.
Each asset gets the special handling it needs. The goal is not to show off file formats; it is to make the page choose the right thing quietly, then explain the machinery only when you ask.
