CCITT Group 4 Fax Image (.g4)
The G4 file extension, standing for CCITT Group 4 Fax Image, is a specialized format used primarily for storing black-and-white facsimile (fax) images. Its origins trace back to the Consultative Committee for International Telegraphy and Telephony (CCITT), now known as the ITU-T, which developed the Group 4 standard in the 1980s to improve fax transmission efficiency over digital networks. This format employs a high compression ratio to reduce file size while maintaining image quality, making it ideal for archiving documents and transmitting faxes in professional and business environments.