Definition[]
MPEG (an acronym for the Moving Picture Experts Group) is a group that first met in 1988 for the purpose of developing standards for audio and video compression (the "MPEG" standard).
MPEG is a compression scheme for full-motion video images. It uses JPEG for the compression of individual frames and also uses other lossy techniques to compress data between frames. MPEG is inherently lossy and the high compression ratio of JPEG is only possible with the lossy compression.
MPEG has standardized:
- MPEG-1 to compress VHS quality video on a CD-ROM at a rate of 100-1. MPEG-1 Layer 3 is a widely used audio compression format known as MP3.
- MPEG-2 to be used for broadcast-quality television through digital satellite and cable services.
- MPEG-3 originally for HDTV but abandoned in favor of a modified form of MPEG-2.
- MPEG-4 to expand MPEG-1 to include 3D content and support for digital rights management.
MPEG files frequently have an .mpg file extension.