The JPG format, short for "Joint Photographic Experts Group", is a method for storing digital photographs. Its main characteristic is so-called lossy compression. This means that when an image is saved, part of the image data is removed to make the resulting file as small as possible. The degree of this compression can usually be adjusted – higher compression leads to a smaller file size, but also to a reduction in image quality. Lower compression preserves more details, but the file takes up more space on the memory card. This process is irreversible, and each subsequent save in JPG format can slightly further degrade the image quality. Most digital cameras save images directly in this format because it offers a practical balance between quality and file size, which is beneficial for sharing and archiving.
