The Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is a standard format for storing digital audio data. Developed by Apple Inc. in 1988, AIFF is commonly used for high-quality audio files, making it popular among professionals in the music and film industries. The format supports various audio encoding methods and can store both uncompressed and compressed audio data. AIFF files typically have a .aiff or .aif extension and are compatible with many audio editing software and playback devices. Due to its uncompressed nature, AIFF files can be quite large, but they provide excellent sound quality, making them ideal for applications where audio fidelity is crucial.