(related variations: mpeg mpg mpeg2 mpeg3 mpeg4 mp2 mp3 mp4 m3u m4u)

The Moving Pictures Expert Group devised formats for storing both movies and sounds. A file with this extension could thus be either an audio file or a movie file. Both types are supported by many different platforms, with perhaps the audio type being a little more recognized. Both types also utilize lossy compression that is designed to take advantage of the limitations of human vision and hearing. Regardless the compression still occasionally does weird things producing "MPEG compression funnies", particularly during periods of rapid movement in video. MPEGs are not limited to computers; some digital satellite television transmissions use an MPEG format, and DVDs use an MPEG format. MPEG has nothing to do with either JPEG or JBIG in spite of the similarity of names. MPEG does have some relation to QuickTime, though, and the next version of each will work to merge the two. If there is a number at the end of the extension, it refers to the specific generation of the MPEG format in use within the file.