
JPEG XS is a next-generation image and video compression standard designed for efficient real-time, high-resolution media workflows.
Developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and standardized as ISO/IEC 21122, it answers the need for ultra-low latency, visually lossless video transport in modern IP-based infrastructures.
Unlike legacy codecs, JPEG XS achieves high-quality compression without compromise, offering seamless performance for industries such as broadcast, automotive, healthcare, and Pro AV.
Did you know?
The “XS” in JPEG XS stands for “eXtra Small” and “eXtra Speed”, highlighting the format’s mission to deliver high-performance compression with minimal resource consumption and mininal latency.
Key Features
JPEG XS stands out with its unique capabilities, designed to optimize modern media workflows and replace uncompressed video without compromise.
- Ultra-Low Latency: Compression and decompression in microseconds, ensuring seamless real-time performance, ideal for live production, automotive, and interactive media.
- Visually Lossless Quality: Maintains pristine image and video fidelity, even after multiple encoding/decoding cycles. The output is indistinguishable from the original source.
- Low Bandwidth Requirements: Delivers high-quality video with significantly reduced data rates, easing transmission over constrained or shared networks.
- Scalable Compression Ratios: From light compression to higher reduction levels, JPEG XS adapts to a wide range of applications, resolutions, and performance needs, including HD, 4K, 8K, and beyond.
- Energy Efficient: Optimized for low power, low memory, and fast processing, making it ideal for embedded systems, mobile devices, and cloud environments.
- Deterministic & Frame-Accurate: Ensures predictable behavior and precise timing, which is critical for synchronized, latency-sensitive workflows.

Faster Than H.264 !
Achieve real-time transmission with near-zero latency and no complex buffering.
Sharper Than JPEG 2000 !
Get superior image quality at lower bitrates and optimized for modern workflows.
Smaller Than HEVC !
Reduce storage and bandwidth usage without sacrificing fidelity.
These advantages make JPEG XS indispensable for workflows requiring speed, precision, and efficiency.
Made for these industries
JPEG XS is powering critical media workflows across a wide range of industries, where quality, speed, and reliability are non-negotiable.
How it works
JPEG XS delivers exceptional performance thanks to advanced wavelet-based compression, preserving visual detail while reducing data volumes with minimal latency.
Its architecture is designed for fast, parallel processing, making it ideal for both hardware and software implementations. Unlike traditional codecs, JPEG XS avoids long buffering or complex inter-frame dependencies, enabling real-time performance from capture to display.
The codec is resolution- and frame-rate agnostic, supporting everything from HD to 8K and beyond, without impacting latency or image quality.
Thanks to this efficiency and flexibility, JPEG XS integrates smoothly into existing infrastructures, whether for live production, in-car vision systems, or wireless streaming.
Standards and Certification
JPEG XS is defined under the ISO/IEC 21122 family of standards and benefits from broad industry adoption and interoperability efforts led by organizations such as the JPEG Committee and other associated organisations.