MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is a lossy audio compression format standardized in 1993. It became the defining audio format of the digital era, enabling music to be stored and shared at a fraction of the size of uncompressed audio - a 4-minute song that would be 40 MB as a WAV file might be 4 MB as an MP3.
MP3 achieves compression by discarding audio data that human hearing is least sensitive to, a technique called perceptual coding. At typical bitrates (128–320 kbps), the quality difference compared to the original is difficult to perceive for most listeners in most listening environments.
AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a newer format that generally produces better sound quality than MP3 at the same file size. AAC is the default audio format on iPhones, iPads, and in MP4 video files. For most practical purposes the difference is subtle, but AAC is the better technical choice for new content. MP3 retains an edge in compatibility with older devices and software.
WAV is uncompressed audio - it preserves every sample exactly as recorded, resulting in perfect quality but large files. MP3 sacrifices some audio data for a much smaller file. For everyday listening, streaming, or podcasts, MP3 is sufficient. For professional audio production or archiving, WAV is preferred.
MP3 is used for music libraries, podcasts, voice recordings, and extracting audio from video files. It's universally supported across every device, car stereo, and media player made in the last 25 years.
You can convert MOV to MP4 or extract audio from any video as MP3 directly in your browser - no software to install, no upload required.