MP3 (MPEG-2 Audio Layer III)

The MP3 format is a popular format for storing and transmitting audio data. The format was initially released in 1991 and was further enhanced with additional versions throughout the 1990s. MP3 files are the third audio format of the MPEG-2 video standard.

MP3 files employ a complex lossy compression method to reduce the raw audio file sizes down to as little as 9% of the original format found on conventional music CDs using a common bitrate of 128 kbit/s. Due to their small file size, MP3 files are perfect for online music streaming and portable music players.