MPEG-2 is a standard for the encoding of audio and video, widely used for digital television broadcasts and DVDs. It provides high-quality video and sound compression, making it suitable for cable, satellite, and over-the-air TV.

The MPEG-2 file format, standardized by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) in 1995, was a critical advancement in video compression technology. Developed to provide higher quality video at lower bit rates, MPEG-2 quickly became the standard for digital television broadcasts, including both DVB and ATSC. It also became the format of choice for DVDs, enabling high-quality video and multichannel audio on compact discs. The format uses transport streams (TS) and program streams (PS) for delivering video and audio data, supporting features like interlaced video and multiple audio tracks. MPEG-2's efficiency and versatility significantly contributed to its widespread adoption.