Squeeze – Image Optimization & Compression, WebP Conversion

FAQ

How does the plugin work?

The plugin uses client-side compression algorithms and provides you with the ability to compress images in your WordPress media library or during the image upload process.

What does the speed of image compression depend on?

Because the compression process happens directly into your browser – it depends on your device’s performance.

Image compression process seems to be stuck. The browser doesn’t respond.

It may happen if you are trying to compress a PNG image with a high resolution. In that case, you should wait a while, until the image finishes its compression or a “Request timed out.” error message occurs.

How to fix a “Request timed out” error

Go to the plugin’s setting page (Settings -> Squeeze).
At the “Basic Settings” tab increase the value of the field “Squeeze timeout”. By default it equals 60 seconds, try to make it bigger. If the error still persists, that means the script cannot process your image.

How are the images processed? Are they sent to an external server?

The images compressed directly in your browser – means no external server used. Squeeze does all the work locally. So you should not worry about privacy.

Can this plugin convert images to the WEBP format?

Yes! The Squeeze plugin supports converting images to the WEBP format during the compression process. WEBP is a modern image format that provides superior compression while maintaining high quality, resulting in faster loading times and reduced bandwidth usage. To enable this feature, simply check the « Generate WEBP » option under the Basic Settings tab to output images in WEBP format.

How are WEBP images served?

By default, the Squeeze plugin adds rules to your .htaccess file to serve WEBP images automatically. This means that when a browser supports the WEBP format, the corresponding WEBP version of an image will be served without changing the original image’s URL. This allows seamless integration without disrupting your website’s existing structure.
If you enable the « Replace Images URLs » option in the plugin settings, the plugin will directly replace all image URLs on your pages with their corresponding WEBP versions. This can be useful for ensuring that WEBP images are explicitly used everywhere on your site.
The generated WEBP images are stored in the wp-content/squeeze-webp folder within your WordPress installation.

Which scripts are used for compressing and converting images?

The Squeeze plugin utilizes the same scripts and libraries that power the Squoosh.app, an open-source project by the Google Chrome team. These include highly efficient image processing libraries such as:

• MozJPEG: Used for compressing JPEG images.
• Browser Image Compression: Used for compressing PNG images. This is not come from the Squoosh.app, as its OxiPNG takes quite a long time to compress images.
• WebP: Used for converting and compressing images to the modern WEBP format.
• AVIF: An advanced codec for creating lightweight and high-quality AVIF images.

Why should I use image compression on my website?

Image compression helps improve your website’s performance by reducing the file size of images without significantly impacting their quality. Smaller image files load faster, resulting in faster page load times and a better user experience. Additionally, compressed images consume less bandwidth, which can be beneficial for websites with limited hosting resources or mobile users with limited data plans.

Which image formats does the Squeeze plugin work with?

Squeeze plugin supports JPG, PNG, WEBP and AVIF image formats.

Can I compress multiple images at once?

Yes, the plugin provides a bulk compression feature. This saves time and effort compared to compressing images individually.

Can I compress images NOT from the Media Library, but from a custom folder?

Yes, you can compress images from any folder within your WordPress installation.

Can I customize the compression settings?

Yes, the plugin allows you to customize various compression settings according to your preferences. The Settings page is located at Settings -> Squeeze.

Where can I read the full documentation for this plugin?

The full documentation is available here: https://pluginarium.com/squeeze/squeeze-documentation/