How do PDF and JPGcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
Portable Document Format
PDF is the universal standard for sharing documents. It preserves formatting, fonts, and layout across all devices and operating systems. From contracts to resumes, PDF is the format the world relies on.
Joint Photographic Experts Group
JPG (also known as JPEG) is the most widely used image format for photographs and complex images. It uses lossy compression to significantly reduce file size while maintaining acceptable visual quality.
| Specification | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Document Format | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Extension | .jpg | |
| MIME type | application/pdf | image/jpeg |
| Category | Document | Image |
| Developer | Adobe Systems | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Year introduced | 1993 | 1992 |
PDF (document) and JPG (image) serve fundamentally different purposes but are often compared when converting between media types.