JPG vs. PNG: Which Format Should You Choose?
Even in 2025, the battle between JPG and PNG rages on. To the casual user, they look the same. But as a developer, I can tell you that choosing the wrong one is the easiest way to ruin a website's performance.
The Real Difference: Transparency & Artifacts
The core distinction comes down to their compression method and one crucial feature: transparency. JPG uses 'lossy' compression and physically cannot have a transparent background. PNG uses 'lossless' compression, supports transparency, and keeps lines perfectly crisp.
When to Use JPG: The Photographer's Friend
JPG is the undisputed champion for photographs—it handles millions of colors beautifully. Warning: I learned this the hard way early in my career; never use JPG for a logo with text. The text will get "fuzzy" (artifacts) around the edges.
When to Use PNG: The Designer's Tool
PNG's killer feature is its support for transparency. If you have a logo, icon, or any graphic that needs a non-rectangular shape, PNG is your only traditional choice. The trade-off is that for photos, a PNG file will be significantly larger than a JPG.
The Simple Rule of Thumb
It boils down to this: If it has a face or a landscape, JPG it. If it has a logo, text, or needs to float over a colored background, PNG it. Choosing the right format is a fundamental skill that ensures your images look professional.