MP3, short for MPEG-1 Audio Layer III, is a widely used audio compression format that revolutionized how people listen to music and store audio files.

Developed in the early 1990s, MP3 works by removing audio frequencies that the human ear can barely perceive, drastically reducing the size of audio files without causing obvious loss of sound quality. For example, a standard CD-quality audio track can be compressed to just 1/10 of its original size when converted to MP3, making it easy to store hundreds of songs on small devices and share them over the internet.

In the 2000s, MP3 players like the Apple iPod became cultural icons, letting users carry their entire music libraries in their pockets. Before streaming services dominated the market, MP3 was the go-to format for downloading and playing music.

Even today, despite the rise of higher-quality formats (such as FLAC) and streaming platforms (like Spotify and Apple Music), MP3 remains popular due to its universal compatibility. Almost all audio players, smartphones, and media software support MP3 files, making it a reliable choice for storing and playing audio content.