7.2.1 JPG (for photos)

What it is: JPG (or JPEG, Joint Photographic Experts Group) is one of the most common image formats, especially for photographs.
How it works: JPG uses a "lossy compression" method. This means when you save a photo as a JPG, it actually throws away some information that your eyes probably won't notice, making the file size much smaller. The more you compress it, the smaller the file, but the more quality you lose.
Best for: Photos with lots of colors and smooth changes in color (like landscapes or portraits). It's great for sharing images on the web because of its small file size.
Weakness: Because it throws away information, it's not ideal for images with sharp lines, text, or transparent backgrounds, as you might see fuzzy edges or weird colors.

Bibliography:

JPEG files. (n.d.). Adobe Blog. Retrieved July 11, 2025, from https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/file-types/image/raster/jpeg-file.html
When Should You Use JPEGs vs PNGs? (2025, February 27). Hosting.com. Retrieved July 11, 2025, from https://hosting.com/blog/pngs-vs-jpegs/

Further Reading:

JPEG. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG