JPEG is a picture file format - what docs JPEG stand for?

The correct answer is Joint Photographic Experts Group.

Key Points

• JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, a standard for compressing and storing digital images.
• It was developed by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and the ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector).
• JPEG uses a compression algorithm that allows for significant reductions in file size while maintaining acceptable image quality, ideal for web usage and storage.
• The JPEG standard was formally introduced in 1992, making it one of the earliest and most widely adopted image compression standards.
• It supports lossy compression, which reduces file size by discarding some image data, though it is less suitable for images requiring high precision, such as medical imaging.

Additional Information

• Compression Techniques in JPEG:
  • JPEG uses Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to convert spatial image data into frequency components for effective compression.
  • It applies quantization, which reduces precision in less visually significant parts of the image to achieve compression.
  • Huffman coding or arithmetic coding is used for further compression in the encoding stage.
• File Extensions: Images compressed using the JPEG standard typically use extensions like .jpg, .jpeg, or .jpe.
• JPEG vs PNG: JPEG is better suited for photographs and images with gradients, while PNG, which uses lossless compression, is more appropriate for graphics or images requiring transparency.
• Advanced JPEG Variants: Standards like JPEG 2000 and JPEG XR have been developed to address some limitations of the original JPEG format, such as enhanced compression or support for higher bit depths.
• Limitations: JPEG compression may introduce artifacts, especially at higher compression levels, and is not suitable for editing-intensive workflows due to its lossy nature.