The biggest advantage of thumbnail images is their reduced file size compared to the original image. A website will have significantly faster loading times if its range of image and video content is initially displayed in the form of thumbnails. Internet users decide for themselves which content they want to see, and load the actual, original image or content by clicking on the thumbnail.
The small file size of thumbnails makes it possible for website designers to offer visitors a lot of content immediately without increasing the loading time of the page. Clicking on the thumbnail takes you to the media content in original size, which can be opened in a new tab or window. Further advantages include:
- Space savers: Preview images allow internet users to present an overview of different media content in a small space
- User-friendliness: Images have the great advantage that they can be captured very quickly; thumbs structures a website so that users can quickly find their way around it
- Interactivity: Thumbnails engage the user with the website – usually by clicking on a thumbnail
Thumbnails are usually generated automatically by search engines, image editing programs, as well as image management programs. The smaller file size of thumbnails is especially useful for mobile browsing.