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MPEG, which stands for Moving Picture Experts Group, is a standard for compressing and encoding audio and video files. It creates more efficient, smaller files suitable for storage and distribution by using techniques like lossy compression. The term can refer to both the group that developed the standards and the file formats themselves, which are used in various applications from broadcast television to digital media.

What MPEG is

A standards group: An international group of experts that develops standards for video and audio compression and other multimedia technologies.

A compression standard: The methods it uses to reduce the size of large multimedia files, making them easier to store and stream.

A file format: Refers to the resulting compressed audio and video data. Common file extensions, such as .mp4 (for MPEG-4), .mp2 (for MPEG-1 Layer II audio), and .mpg, are used to indicate MPEG-encoded files.

Key characteristics

Lossy compression: MPEG standards are often lossy, meaning they discard some data that is less noticeable to the human eye and ear to achieve smaller file sizes.

Applications: Widely used for a variety of purposes, including digital television broadcasting, streaming services, and video on demand.

Versatility: Different MPEG standards (like MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4) offer different features and performance levels for various applications, such as high-definition video and mobile devices.