What is MP3....????

WHAT IS MP3?????

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compressing a sound sequence into a very small file (about one-twelfth the size of the original file).

MP3 files are usually download-and-play files rather than streaming sound files that you link-and-listen-to with Real Player and similar products.

To create an MP3 file, you use a program called a ripper to get a selection from a CD onto your hard disk and another program called an encoder to convert the selection to an MP3 file. Most people, however, simply download MP3s from someone else and play them.

The advantage of MP3 is that it can be broken up into pieces, and each piece is still playable. The feature that makes this possible (header less file format) also means that MP3 files can be made to stream across the net real-time.