Large image file sizes can slow down website loading times, negatively affecting user experience and search engine rankings. Managing image optimization manually or implementing modern formats like WebP can be challenging for OpenCart store owners, especially on image-heavy websites.

The WebP Image Generator for OpenCart is a powerful extension designed to optimize your store's images using the modern WebP format. By significantly reducing image file sizes without compromising quality, it improves website performance, enhances user experience, and boosts SEO rankings.

Features:

• Template Compatibility: Fully supports all templates, including Journal2 and Journal3.
  
• Browser Detection: Automatically detects if the browser supports WebP and falls back to the original JPEG/PNG format for unsupported browsers.
  
• Automatic Conversion: Converts cached images to WebP format automatically for seamless implementation.
  
• Manual Optimization: Admins can manually generate WebP images for all cached images to speed up optimization.
  
• Cache Management: Includes an option to delete image cache folders directly from the admin panel.
  
• Efficient Compression: Utilizes the Rosell DK library with Google's optimized cwebp tool for superior compression quality, smaller file sizes, and advanced features.
  
• CRON Job Automation: Enables users to schedule WebP image generation in batches using CRON jobs to prevent server overload and ensure smooth performance. (OpenCart 3+)
  
• Non-Intrusive Functionality: Does not modify database entries, core files, or existing images. Works exclusively with cached images for seamless operation.
  

This extension implements WebP compression for your images without altering database entries, rewriting core files, or modifying existing images. It works by converting images already cached by the system. When an image is requested on the storefront, the extension first checks if a WebP version of the image exists. If the WebP version is available or has already been generated, it loads the WebP image, resulting in noticeable improvements in load speed. If the WebP image is not yet available, the extension generates it dynamically.

WebP Image Format is Recommended by Google

Screenshots:





Requirements:

• PHP 5.6 or higher (PHP 7.x and 8.x are recommended for better performance).
  
• Ensure that the GD library installed on your server has WebP support enabled.
  
• Alternatively, the Imagick library can also be used if it supports WebP image processing.
  
• To check if WebP is enabled in GD, use the phpinfo() function and look for "WebP Support" under the GD section.
  
• (Optional) cwebp tool for superior compression, check hosting support if this is installed or if it can be installed.