What is .jpg?

.jpg (or .jpeg) is the most widely used image format for digital photography and web graphics. It uses lossy compression to significantly reduce file size while maintaining acceptable visual quality, making it ideal for storing and sharing colorful, complex images.

This quick guide explains when to use .jpg files, how to open them on any device, and how to share them instantly with FileXhost.

When to use .jpg files

You are saving or sharing photographs with many colors and gradients.
You need a format that is compatible with virtually every device and browser in existence.
You want to reduce file size for faster web loading times and don't need transparency.

How to open .jpg files

JPG files open natively on every operating system, web browser, and image viewer. You can also upload .jpg files to FileXhost to create shareable links or convert them to other formats.

Algorithm details

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression works by converting the image from RGB to YCbCr color space, downsampling the color information (chroma subsampling), and then dividing the image into 8x8 pixel blocks. These blocks undergo a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to separate high and low-frequency details. High-frequency details (which the human eye is less sensitive to) are then quantized (discarded or reduced), resulting in smaller file sizes.

Browser & platform support

Desktop: Supported by 100% of desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, IE).
Mobile: Supported by 100% of mobile browsers and operating systems.
OS: Native support on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and practically any digital device with a screen.

Format comparison

Feature	Details
File Size	Small. Adjustable compression allows for very small files at the cost of quality.
Compression	Lossy. Quality degrades each time the file is edited and re-saved.
Transparency	Not supported. Backgrounds are always solid (usually white or black).
Animation	Not supported. Static images only.
Compatibility	The universal standard. Opens everywhere without specialized software.

How to create jpg files

Cameras: The default format for almost all digital cameras and smartphones.
Image Editors: Photoshop, GIMP, Paint, Canva (Export as JPG).
Screenshots: Some tools allow saving directly as JPG (though PNG is often default).
Scanning: The standard format for scanning documents and photos.

How to convert jpg files

FileXhost: Upload JPGs to share or convert them to PDF, PNG, or WebP.
Desktop: Open in any image viewer (Photos, Preview) and use 'Save As' or 'Export'.
Online tools: TinyJPG (for compression), CloudConvert, Ezgif.
CLI: ImageMagick (convert input.png output.jpg), ffmpeg.

Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages

Universal compatibility across all devices and software
Excellent compression for photographs and complex images
Adjustable quality/size trade-off (1-100 scale)
Fast loading and decoding
Standard for printing and photography

Disadvantages

No support for transparency (alpha channel)
Lossy compression introduces artifacts (blockiness) at lower quality
No support for animation
Quality degrades with repeated editing and saving (generation loss)
Not ideal for sharp edges, text, or line art (PNG is better)

Tools & software

Viewers

All web browsers, Windows Photos, macOS Preview, Google Photos

Editors

Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP, Paint.NET, Snapseed

Optimizers

TinyJPG, JPEGmini, ImageOptim, Squoosh

Libraries

libjpeg, MozJPEG, Pillow (Python), Sharp (Node.js)

Frequently asked questions

Is there a difference between .jpg and .jpeg?

No, they are the exact same format. The 3-letter extension (.jpg) was used in older Windows systems that required 3-character extensions, while .jpeg was used on Unix/Mac. Today, both are used interchangeably.

Why do my JPG images look blurry or pixelated?

This is likely due to high compression or repeated saving. Each time a JPG is saved, some data is lost (generation loss). Always keep an original lossless version (like PNG or TIFF) for editing.

Can I remove the background from a JPG?

You can edit the image to remove the background, but you must save it as a PNG, WebP, or GIF to keep the background transparent. Saving it as JPG again will fill the transparent area with a solid color (usually white).

Is JPG better than PNG?

It depends. JPG is better for photos because it creates smaller files. PNG is better for graphics with text, sharp lines, or transparency because it is lossless and keeps edges crisp.

How do I reduce the size of a JPG file?

You can use tools like TinyJPG, Squoosh, or FileXhost's compression features to lower the quality setting slightly, which drastically reduces file size with minimal visual difference.

Technical specs

File type: Image
Extension: .jpg
MIME type: image/jpeg, image/jpg
Compression: Lossy
Max file size on FileXhost: Up to 25 MB per file on the free plan and up to 1 GB on Pro FileXhost accounts.

Upload your .jpg file to FileXhost to get a clean, shareable URL in seconds. View the file in a modern browser, protect access with optional settings, and let others download it without any confusing ads or cluttered file pages.

Upload .jpg file