MPEG Audio Layer 3 (.mp3)

The MP3 file extension is associated with audio files that are encoded in a compressed format developed by the Fraunhofer Society, standardized and released by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). This format, which uses "Layer 3" audio compression, is known for its ability to significantly reduce the size of audio files. The compression works by using inexact approximations and partial discarding of data, based on psychoacoustic analysis, to encode data. This results in a large reduction in file sizes compared to uncompressed audio, which was particularly important when storage space was limited. MP3 files have been widely used to store music, podcasts, lectures, and other forms of audio content. The format gained immense popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s, facilitating the distribution of music over the Internet and contributing to the rise of music piracy through services.

The MP3 format was a revolutionary step in the distribution of digital audio. It allowed users to download music quickly and efficiently, which was a significant advantage given the limited bandwidth and storage capacities of the time. Despite the controversies surrounding copyright infringement, the MP3 format remains widely used today, although it has been somewhat superseded by more efficient audio compression formats like M4A.