All formats
What is a JPG file?
JPG is a lossy image format published in 1992 and still the most widely supported photo format in existence. It discards detail the eye is least likely to notice to reach small file sizes, which makes it ideal for photographs and a poor choice for text, line art or anything needing transparency.
At a glance
- Full name
- JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
- Extensions
- .jpg, .jpeg
- Type
- Image
- Introduced
- 1992
- Created by
- Joint Photographic Experts Group
- Compression
- Lossy
- MIME type
- image/jpeg
Strengths
- Opens everywhere, with no compatibility caveats
- Small files for photographic content
- Adjustable quality, so you control the size/fidelity trade-off
Limitations
- No transparency (alpha) channel
- Every re-save loses more detail, so repeated edits degrade the image
- Visible blocking and halos on sharp edges, text and flat colour
When to use JPG
Use it when
Sharing photographs where universal compatibility matters more than the last few percent of file size.
Avoid it when
The image has transparency, hard edges, screenshots or text, or will be edited and re-saved repeatedly.
Convert JPG files
Every tool below runs in your browser unless it is labelled otherwise, so the file stays on your device.
JPG conversions
Each page states what the target format cannot carry before you run it.
JPG compared
Related image formats
Last updated 2026-08-03