A guide to optimizing images and media in Magento 2

Optimizing images and media in an online store is a key element that affects page loading speed, user experience and search engine positioning. Magento 2, being one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, offers a number of tools and techniques that can help you achieve optimal results. In this article, as Magento 2 experts, we present a detailed guide to optimizing images and media in Magento 2.

Page loading speed is one of the key factors influencing conversion rates and positioning in search results. High-quality images can significantly increase loading times, which can result in a high bounce rate. Optimizing images not only speeds up page loading, but also improves the user experience, which can lead to higher conversions.

Selecting the appropriate image format:

• JPEG is perfect for photos with lots of colors.
• PNG is best for graphics with transparency.
• SVG is great for vector graphics and icons because it maintains quality at different resolutions.

Before loading images into Magento 2, it is worth using compression tools such as TinyPNG, JPEGmini or ImageOptim.

These tools can reduce file sizes without any noticeable loss of quality.

Magento 2 allows you to use the <picture> tag and the srcset attribute, which allows you to load different versions of images depending on the screen resolution of the user's device.

Lazy loading delays the loading of images that are not visible on the screen until the user scrolls towards them. Magento 2 supports lazy loading, which can significantly speed up the loading of the initial page.

Magento 2 allows you to automatically generate image thumbnails. Make sure your thumbnails are properly compressed and optimized.

Media optimization also covers video, audio and other multimedia assets. Here are some tips on how to optimize these elements:

Instead of hosting videos directly on a Magento server, it is worth using platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo or Wistia. These websites are optimized for video streaming and do not load the store's server.

Make sure your video files are in formats optimized for streaming, such as MP4. You can also compress videos using tools like HandBrake to reduce their size without losing quality

Content Delivery Network (CDN) can significantly speed up the delivery of multimedia files, especially for users from different parts of the world. Magento 2 easily integrates with popular CDN services:

Cloudflare - Offers a wide range of services including CDN, DDoS protection, performance optimization and web application security.

Akamai - one of the largest CDN providers in the world, offering advanced solutions for large enterprises, including page loading acceleration, protection against cyberattacks and media management.

Amazon CloudFront - A CDN service from Amazon Web Services (AWS) that integrates with other AWS services for high performance and low latency.`

Google Cloud CDN - CDN service from Google Cloud, offering fast content delivery using Google infrastructure.

Microsoft Azure CDN - CDN service from Microsoft Azure, offering global acceleration of content delivery and integration with other Azure services.

Fastly - A modern CDN platform, known for low latency and advanced real-time content management features.

KeyCDN - An easy-to-use, efficient and affordable CDN platform that offers global content delivery acceleration.

StackPath - Offers a CDN with advanced security features such as a web application firewall (WAF) and DDoS protection.

CDN77 - CDN platform offering fast and reliable content delivery, with a focus on video streaming and online gaming.

MaxCDN (now part of StackPath) - A popular CDN platform that offered fast content delivery and easy integration with various platforms.

Imperva Incapsula - CDN with advanced security features such as web application firewall (WAF) and DDoS protection.

Rackspace CDN - CDN service offered by Rackspace, powered by Akamai technology, ensuring fast content delivery and high availability.

CDN platforms vary in features, pricing, and performance, so it's important to choose a solution that best suits your business needs.

Audio files should be in web-optimized formats such as MP3. Make sure they are compressed appropriately to minimize loading times.

Tools optimization tools available in Magento 2

Magento 2 offers a number of tools and extensions that can help you automate the image and media optimization process:

This tool allows you to easily add and optimize images and other media on your store pages

There are many extensions available on the Magento Marketplace that compress and optimize images automatically.

Magento 2 can be easily integrated with image optimization tools such as Cloudinary or ImageKit.

Image and media optimization is a key element that can greatly impact the performance and success of your Magento 2 store. With the right techniques and tools, you can significantly speed up page loading, improve user experience, and increase conversion rates. Remember that regular optimization and monitoring of media performance is the basis for effective online store management.

We hope this guide helps you get the most out of image and media optimization in Magento 2. If you need additional help or have questions, please contact us - we're here to help!