Comparison
JPG vs PNG
JPEG and PNG are common image formats with different compression models, transparency support, and strengths for photographs, graphics, screenshots, and repeated editing.
At a glance
- JPEG strength
- Photographic compression
- PNG strength
- Lossless graphics and transparency
Overview
JPEG normally uses lossy compression designed to reduce photographic file sizes by discarding some image information, while PNG uses lossless compression and supports alpha transparency. The better choice depends on the visual content and delivery requirements rather than one format being universally superior.
Use JPEG where small photographic files matter
Photographs and complex natural scenes often compress efficiently as JPEG because small losses can be difficult to notice at appropriate quality settings. Repeated re-encoding can introduce additional artifacts, so an original editing master should be preserved when quality matters.
Use PNG where exact pixels or transparency matter
Screenshots, interface graphics, diagrams, and images with sharp edges can benefit from PNG lossless compression. PNG can also preserve transparent pixels, which makes it useful for logos and overlays where the image must blend with different backgrounds.
Sources and review
MOOR's explanatory text is supported by the following source links.
- Image file type and format guide — MDN Web Docs
- Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Specification — W3C