What is JPEG?
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is the world's most widely used image format, created in 1992 for efficient photo storage and sharing. It uses lossy compression to reduce file sizes by 10-20x while maintaining visual quality.
Important: JPEG and JPG are exactly the same format. The only difference is the file extension-JPG became common because early Windows versions only allowed 3-letter extensions. All software treats .jpeg and .jpg files identically.
Whether you're converting to JPEG or JPG, you get the same universal compatibility and efficient compression for photos.
Why Convert to JPEG?
JPEG's universal compatibility makes it the go-to format:
- Works everywhere - Every device, browser, and app supports JPEG without special software
- Efficient compression - Photos become 10-20x smaller with barely noticeable quality loss
- HEIC to JPEG - Convert iPhone photos for Windows and cross-platform sharing
- Web-ready - JPEG is the standard for web images and social media
- Email-friendly - Compressed JPEGs fit within attachment limits
- Print compatible - Print services accept JPEG without issues
Convert to JPEG from Any Format
PNG to JPEG
Convert PNG screenshots and graphics to JPEG for smaller file sizes. Note that transparency becomes a solid background (usually white). Best for photos and images without transparency needs.
HEIC to JPEG
iPhone's default HEIC format doesn't work on Windows or many websites. Convert to JPEG for universal access to your iPhone photos.
WebP to JPEG
WebP is modern and efficient but still has compatibility gaps. Convert to JPEG when sharing with users who might have trouble opening WebP.
RAW to JPEG
Camera RAW files require special software and are huge. Convert to JPEG for sharing and everyday viewing.
TIFF to JPEG
Scanned documents and professional files in TIFF are too large for email and web. JPEG compression makes them practical to share.
Convert JPEG to Other Formats
JPEG to PNG
Convert when you need transparency or will edit repeatedly. Note: quality lost in JPEG compression can't be restored-PNG just preserves current quality.
JPEG to PDF
Create documents from photos. Combine multiple JPEGs into a single PDF for sharing photo collections or documentation.
JPEG to WebP
For website optimization. WebP is 25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality. Good for web developers controlling the viewing environment.
JPEG Technical Specifications
- Full name: Joint Photographic Experts Group
- Extensions: .jpeg, .jpg (identical)
- MIME type: image/jpeg
- Compression: Lossy (DCT-based)
- Color depth: 24-bit (16.7 million colors)
- Transparency: Not supported
- Animation: Not supported
- Standard: ISO/IEC 10918
JPEG vs JPG - What's the Difference?
There is no difference-they're the same format:
- .jpeg - Original extension, full name spelling
- .jpg - Shortened version for DOS/Windows 3.1 (which only allowed 3-letter extensions)
- Today: Both are fully interchangeable. Some software defaults to one or the other, but all software reads both.
Choose whichever extension you prefer-there's zero functional difference.
How to Convert JPEG Files
- Upload your image - Any format: PNG, HEIC, WebP, TIFF, BMP, RAW, or others.
- Select JPEG output - Optionally adjust quality (85% recommended for best size/quality balance).
- Download your JPEG - Get universally compatible images instantly.
Batch upload supported-convert multiple files at once.
JPEG Quality Guidelines
- 90-100%: Maximum quality, larger files. For print and archival.
- 80-90%: Recommended for most uses. Visually identical to 100% at half the file size.
- 60-80%: Noticeable on close inspection. Good for thumbnails and web previews.
- Below 60%: Visible compression artifacts. Only for extreme size reduction.