The Enduring Reign of JPEG: Why This 30-Year-Old Image Format Still Rules

This article explores the three-decade-long history of the JPEG image format. JPEG wasn't the web's first image format, but its superior compatibility and progressive compression quickly made it dominant. Unlike the GIF, JPEG was a standardized format developed by a committee, ensuring broad adoption. Despite the emergence of newer formats like JPEG 2000, WebP, AVIF, and HEIC, JPEG's head start and widespread use make it nearly impossible to displace, much like MP3 and ZIP – enduring classics.