MP3

MP3

MP3 (short for MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) is a widely used digital audio format designed to compress sound data while maintaining a high level of audio quality. Developed in the early 1990s by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), MP3 revolutionized how people store and share music by drastically reducing file sizes compared to uncompressed formats like WAV.

The MP3 format works by using a lossy compression method, which removes audio data that is less perceptible to human hearing. This allows files to be much smaller—often around one-tenth the size of the original—without a noticeable drop in sound quality for most listeners. Common bitrates include 128 kbps, 192 kbps, and 320 kbps, with higher bitrates providing better quality at the cost of larger files.

MP3 files can store music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other sound recordings, making them compatible with nearly every media player, smartphone, computer, and portable music device. The format played a key role in the rise of digital music distribution and portable MP3 players in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Even though newer formats like AAC and FLAC have emerged, MP3 remains one of the most recognized and universally supported audio formats in the world.