JPG (or JPEG, which stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a widely used image file format, particularly suitable for photography and web images. It is named after its creators, the Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPG is very popular because it supports high levels of compression, which significantly reduces file size without too much loss in visual quality, making it especially useful for web transmission and storage.
- Lossy Compression: JPG uses lossy compression techniques to reduce the size of image files. This means that some image data is permanently removed during the compression process. This compression usually results in some loss of image quality, especially noticeable with repeated editing and saving of the image.
- Adjustable Compression Levels: Users can choose the level of compression to balance image quality and file size. The higher the compression level, the smaller the file size, but the greater the loss in image quality.
- Widespread Support: Nearly all image viewing software, editing tools, and browsers support the JPG format, making it a very convenient format for sharing and publishing images.
- Web Images: Due to its smaller file size, the JPG format is ideal for use on websites, helping to speed up page loading times.
- Photography: JPG is one of the most commonly used image formats in digital cameras and smartphones because it allows for the storage of high-quality images while keeping file sizes reasonable.