Image format
The JPG format
JPG is a lossy photo format that trades detail you can’t see for much smaller files. JPEG is named after the Joint Photographic Experts Group, whose standard was published in 1992; it has been the default photo format of cameras and the web ever since.
When to use JPG
Use JPG for photographs you are sending, uploading or printing, especially when a form or app is fussy about formats.
It is best for photographs that need to open anywhere and stay reasonably small, and it opens on every phone, computer, browser, printer and upload form.
How to open it: Every device opens JPG files natively — there is nothing to install.
| Full name | JPEG |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe |
| MIME type | image/jpeg |
| Introduced | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| Support | Opens everywhere |
| Typical size | A 12-megapixel phone photo is usually 2–5 MB |
Good at
- Accepted by every website, portal, printer and app
- Small files for photographs
- Quality is adjustable, so size can be traded for detail
Not so good at
- No transparency
- Smudgy halos around text, lines and flat color
- Loses a little more quality every time it is edited and re-saved
The common mistake
Re-saving a JPG again and again degrades it, because each save compresses the already compressed version. Keep an original and export to JPG once, at the end.
Convert JPG to another image format
Convert to JPG from
Compare JPG with
Questions
What is a JPG file?
JPG (JPEG) is a lossy photo format that trades detail you can’t see for much smaller files. JPEG is named after the Joint Photographic Experts Group, whose standard was published in 1992; it has been the default photo format of cameras and the web ever since.
How do I open a JPG file?
Every device opens JPG files natively — there is nothing to install.
How do I convert JPG to another format?
Pick the target on this page, or open the Image Converter, drop the JPG file and choose a format. It converts in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.