MPEG-1 Audio is a digital audio compression standard developed in the late 1980s. It is part of the MPEG-1 video standard and was designed to provide high-quality audio at lower bit rates. This makes it suitable for applications like music streaming and storage on CDs. The standard includes three layers, with Layer I offering the simplest compression and Layer III, commonly known as MP3, providing the most efficient compression. MPEG-1 Audio has been widely adopted in various media formats, contributing to the popularity of digital audio in consumer electronics and online platforms.