# Getting Started

Image enthusiasts should use one of the many software products that
[support WebP](https://wikipedia.org/wiki/WebP#Support).

*** ** * ** ***

We provide in the `libwebp` codec distribution a reference implementation for
the encoder and decoder applications, `cwebp` and `dwebp` respectively, to
showcase the available functionalities of WebP. These files can be downloaded
from the [downloads repository](https://storage.googleapis.com/downloads.webmproject.org/releases/webp/index.html)
or can be built from source. They reside in the `examples/` directory.

The `libwebp` codec includes an extensive encoder and decoder API. Please
consult the appropriate documentation if you'd like to add support for WebP to
your application or browser.

## Using `cwebp` to Convert Images to the WebP Format

Use `cwebp` on the command line to convert PNG or JPEG image files to WebP
format. You can convert a PNG image file to a WebP image with a quality range
of 80 with the command:

    cwebp -q 80 image.png -o image.webp

Consult the `cwebp` [documentation](https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/cwebp) for a description
of the encoder, its standard and advanced options.

## Using `dwebp` to Convert Images from the WebP Format

Use `dwebp` on the command line to convert WebP image files to the PNG or PPM
format. You can convert a WebP image file, say `image.webp` to a PNG image
with the command:

    dwebp image.webp -o image.png

Consult the `dwebp` [documentation](https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/dwebp) for a description
of the decoder and its command-line options.

## Viewing your Images Natively

WebP is a new image format and is natively supported in Google Chrome, Opera,
and [many other](https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/faq#which_web_browsers_natively_support_webp)
applications and libraries.

## API for the WebP Codec

The WebP team has provided an extensive API to allow developers to add
support to their applications, including browsers, image editing tools as well
as native applications.

Consult the [API documentation](https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/api) for a description of
`libwebp` application programming interface.