Comparing Gatsby Image Plugin and Sharp

What are the main differences between the Gatsby Image plugin and Sharp?

The Gatsby Image plugin is designed for optimizing images in Gatsby sites, providing features like lazy loading and responsive images. Sharp, on the other hand, is a high-performance image processing library that can be used independently for various image manipulations.

Which one is better for performance?

It depends on your use case. The Gatsby Image plugin is optimized for Gatsby projects and can handle image loading efficiently. Sharp is faster for bulk image processing tasks but requires more setup.

Can I use Sharp with Gatsby?

Yes, you can use Sharp with Gatsby by integrating it into your build process, often in combination with the Gatsby Source Filesystem plugin to process images before they are used in your site.

What are some common use cases for each?

Common use cases for Gatsby Image include creating responsive images for web pages, while Sharp is often used for server-side image processing tasks like resizing, cropping, and format conversion.