Mozilla Firefox 156 Optimizes JPEG Image Handling to Cut Memory and CPU Usage
Mozilla has released Firefox 156 with optimizations for handling large JPEG images. The browser now uses less memory and processor time when websites display downsized versions of high-resolution photographs.
Normally a browser must fully decode a JPEG file before scaling it to the required dimensions. Firefox 156 reduces the cost of this common operation, which occurs frequently on photo galleries, e-commerce sites, and news feeds that may contain dozens of such images.
The company does not publish a single performance figure because savings depend on original file sizes, the number of images, and the user’s hardware configuration.
PDF Viewer Improvements
A second notable change improves the built-in PDF viewer. According to Mozilla, it can now start up to 45 percent faster. The difference is most noticeable on the first opening of a document, when the browser loads required components.
The update rolls out on 15 September for supported desktop platforms. Users can check for it via the menu path Settings → About Firefox, after which the browser will download the new version and prompt for a restart.
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