Chrome 155 ships JPEG XL decoding via jxl-rs Rust implementation

Chrome integrated jxl-rs starting in version 155 after reimplementing the JPEG XL decoder in Rust. The change follows developer requests tracked through the Interop 2026 process and earlier cycles. The decoder uses stabilized target_feature_11 for SIMD without unsafe blocks outside vetted sections and adopts the jxl_simd abstraction modeled on the Highway library from libjxl.

Performance data from the jxl-rs dashboard shows throughput within a few percent of libjxl on x86-64 and ARM64 targets while recording zero memory-safety defects across fuzzing and static review. This outcome aligns with prior Rust ports in the Chromium renderer that removed entire classes of CVEs previously reported in C++ image decoders. The decision also reflects measured developer signals favoring JPEG XL for lossless and high-fidelity photographic assets over AVIF in specific progressive-loading scenarios.

Operationally, sites can now serve .jxl assets with 30-50 percent smaller payloads than equivalent JPEGs without transcoding loss. Browser vendors gain a verified memory-safe path that reduces sandbox escape surface area. Content pipelines must still generate dual-format fallbacks until Firefox and Safari reach parity.

Next milestones include completion of the Interop 2026 test suite pass rates across engines and publication of usage telemetry thresholds that would trigger default enablement in additional browsers.