What is the difference between using PNG and JPEG formats when saving graphics?

PNG and JPEG are two popular image formats, which differ in compression method and application:

• PNG — a lossless compression format. It preserves all image details without quality degradation. Supports transparency (alpha channel). Ideal for graphics with sharp edges, text, logos, icons.

• JPEG — a lossy compression format. Allows significant reduction of file size by losing some information, which can lead to artifacts. Better suited for photographs and images with smooth color transitions.

Example of use:

• Save interface screenshots or icons in PNG to preserve clarity and transparency.
• Photos for the web are usually saved in JPEG to reduce size and speed up loading.

Thus, the choice of format depends on the task: whether transparency and lossless quality are needed (PNG) or a smaller size with acceptable quality loss is more important (JPEG).