Glossary - J

JPEG

JPEG is a standard method of “lossy” compression used to store computer images of photo-realistic quality. The file format that uses this form of compression is known as JPEG as well. The most common extensions of this format are .jpg, .jpeg, .jfif, .jpe, or the same names written in all capital letters. Originally, the name of this file format was JFIF, which means “JPEG File Interchange Format.” The shortcut JPEG means “Joint Photographic Experts Group,” which is actually a consortium, and suggests this type of compression. JPEG/JFIF is the most common format used for transferring and storing photos on the Internet, but it is not suitable for drawing precise lines or displaying text or icons because the JPEG compression method creates an image with visible and distracting artifacts. For such purposes, GIF and PNG files are mostly used.