Audio format
The MP3 format
MP3 is the most compatible lossy audio format ever made. MP3 was developed largely at the Fraunhofer Institute and standardised in 1993; it made music portable and is still the safest audio format there is.
When to use MP3
Use MP3 when you don’t know what will play the file: cars, old players, podcasts hosts and upload forms all take it.
It is best for music and voice that has to play on anything, and it opens on every phone, computer, car stereo, speaker and app.
How to open it: Double-click it: every operating system and phone plays MP3 files.
| Full name | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .mp3 |
| MIME type | audio/mpeg |
| Introduced | 1993 |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Typical quality | 128–320 kbps |
| Support | Opens everywhere |
| Typical size | About 1 MB a minute at 128 kbps, 2.4 MB at 320 kbps |
Good at
- Plays literally everywhere
- About 1 MB a minute at 128 kbps
- Every upload form and editor accepts it
Not so good at
- An older codec: AAC and Opus sound better at the same size
- Adds a tiny gap at the start and end, which matters for gapless albums
The common mistake
Converting a low-bitrate MP3 to 320 kbps makes it bigger without making it sound any better; what was thrown away is gone.
Convert MP3 to another audio format
Convert to MP3 from
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Questions
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is the most compatible lossy audio format ever made. MP3 was developed largely at the Fraunhofer Institute and standardised in 1993; it made music portable and is still the safest audio format there is.
How do I open an MP3 file?
Double-click it: every operating system and phone plays MP3 files.
How do I convert MP3 to another format?
Pick the target on this page, or open the Audio Converter, drop the MP3 file and choose a format. It converts in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.