What is a JPG file?
JPG (also written JPEG) is the standard format for photos. It uses lossy compression to keep files small, and practically every phone, computer, browser and app can open it.
- Full name
- Joint Photographic Experts Group
- File extensions
- .jpg, .jpeg, .jfif, .jpe
- MIME type
- image/jpeg
- Type
- Raster image
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- No
- Animation
- No
- Format Hero support
- Convert from and to
What JPG is used for
Camera and phone photos, images on websites and social media, email attachments, and anything that has to open on someone else's device without fuss.
Strengths
Small files for photos, adjustable quality, and universal support. No other image format opens in as many places.
Weaknesses
No transparency and no animation. Compression is lossy, so every re-save loses a little detail, and sharp edges or text can pick up faint blocky artefacts.
Compatibility
Every browser, operating system, photo app, office suite, print service and upload form accepts JPG. It's the safe default when you don't know what the other side can open.
Convert JPG to another format
Convert other formats to JPG
Questions
How do I open a JPG file?
Double-click it. Every operating system has a built-in viewer for JPG, and every browser can display it.
Is JPG lossy or lossless?
JPG is lossy: it discards some detail to keep files small.
Does JPG support transparency?
No. JPG has no transparency, so transparent areas need to be filled with a background colour when you convert to it.
Can I convert JPG files without uploading them?
Yes. Format Hero converts JPG files in your browser, on your own device, so they're never sent to a server. It's free, needs no sign-up and adds no watermark.