JPEG vs JPG: Is There Any Difference? (Explained)
Is there a difference between .jpg and .jpeg files? We explain the history, which one to use, and why they are exactly the same thing.
This is one of the most common tech support questions of all time. You download an image, and it says .jpeg. You download another one, and it says .jpg.
Ideal for: Beginners and Tech Support requests.
Are they different? Is one better?
The Short Answer
No. There is absolutely no difference. They are the exact same file format.
A .jpg file and a .jpeg file are identical in every way except for the number of letters in their name.
Why Do We Have Two Names? (A Brief History)
The confusion dates back to the early days of Windows (MS-DOS).
- The Origin: The file format was created by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. So, logically, they named it JPEG.
- The Problem: Early versions of Windows (specifically MS-DOS 8.3) only allowed 3-letter file extensions. You could have
.TXT,.EXE, or.DOC, but you couldn't have.JPEG. - The Solution: Windows shortened it to .JPG.
- The Complexity: Apple Macintosh and Linux computers didn't have this 3-letter limit. So, Mac users kept using .JPEG, while Windows users used .JPG.
Today, Windows accepts any length extension, but the tradition stuck.
Which One Should You Use in 2026?
Use .JPG.
While both work perfectly, .jpg is more common on the web. It keeps your filenames shorter and cleaner.
Can I Rename .jpeg to .jpg?
Yes.
Since the internal data structure is identical, you can safely rename photo.jpeg to photo.jpg without breaking the file. You don't even need a converter tool; just rename it.
When to Use a Converter
You only need a converter if you want to change the format (e.g., converting a JPG to a different type like PNG or WebP).
- JPG to PNG: If you need higher quality for text.
- JPG to WebP: if you want smaller file sizes for your website.
Conclusion
Stop worrying about the "e". It doesn't matter.
But if you want to make your website faster, stop using either of them and switch to WebP.