What primary benefit does the JPEG format provide for digital images?

The JPEG format's primary benefit lies in its ability to offer adjustable levels of lossy compression. This means that users can choose how much data to discard from the original image file, effectively balancing image quality and file size according to their needs. This flexibility allows for significant reductions in file sizes, which is particularly advantageous for web use and storage. Users can select higher compression rates for smaller files that may be acceptable for online viewing while opting for lower compression rates when higher quality is necessary for printing or detailed work.

The range of compression levels allows photographers and graphic designers to manage their images efficiently, making JPEG a popular choice for various digital imaging applications.