ISO/IEC 18181-2:2024

Information technology - JPEG XL image coding system - Part 2: File format

This document specifies the transport and container formats for JPEG XL codestreams as specified in ISO/IEC 18181-1. This document specifies how to add metadata and extensions to JPEG XL codestreams. A file as described by this document is called a JPEG XL file.

Technologies de l'information - Systѐme de codage d'images JPEG XL — Partie 2: Format de fichiers

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Jun-2024
• ICS: 35.040.30 - Coding of graphical and photographical information
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29 - Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29 - Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information
• Current Stage: 9092 - International Standard to be revised
• Start Date: 26-Jan-2025
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO/IEC 18181-2:2021 - Information technology - JPEG XL image coding system - Part 2: File format
• Effective Date: 25-Jun-2022

Overview

ISO/IEC 18181-2:2024 - "Information technology - JPEG XL image coding system - Part 2: File format" specifies the file and transport/container formats for JPEG XL codestreams (as defined in ISO/IEC 18181-1). It defines how to wrap a JPEG XL codestream in a box-based file, how to attach metadata and extensions, and the rules a decoder must follow. A file conforming to this document is called a JPEG XL file (media type image/jxl is registered in Annex B).

Keywords: ISO/IEC 18181-2:2024, JPEG XL file format, JPEG XL codestream, image/jxl, metadata, box structure

Key technical topics and requirements

• File forms: A JPEG XL file may be either a direct codestream (no wrapping) or a box-structured file. Decoders must accept both forms.
• Box-based organization: The file format uses a sequence of boxes (header + content) similar in syntax to other ISO image formats (see ISO/IEC 15444-1 and related standards).
• Mandatory boxes: A JPEG XL file using the box structure must begin with a JPEG XL Signature box (first) and a File Type box (second). Other boxes are optional or repeatable.
• Common box types: Level, JUMBF (JPEG Universal Metadata Box Format), Exif, XML, Brotli-compressed boxes, Frame Index, JPEG XL Codestream box, JPEG XL Partial Codestream boxes, and JPEG Bitstream Reconstruction Data box.
• Partial codestreams: The codestream may be split across multiple JPEG XL Partial Codestream boxes; the codestream is formed by concatenating their contents.
• Box binary format: Each box header contains LBox (u32 big-endian), TBox (4-byte type), optional XLBox (u64), and DBox (content). Numerical types include u32, u64 (big-endian) and Varint (variable-length integer as in ISO/IEC 18181-1).
• Extensibility and robustness: Unrecognized box types must be ignored and skipped by decoders, enabling forward compatibility.
• Metadata handling: Support for standard metadata carriers (Exif, XML, JUMBF) and compressed payloads (Brotli per RFC 7932).

Practical applications and who uses this standard

• Software and hardware codec implementers building JPEG XL encoders and decoders.
• Browser vendors, image viewers, and web platforms implementing image/jxl support.
• Digital asset management, imaging libraries, and photo editing tools that store or manipulate JPEG XL files and metadata.
• Archival and publishing systems needing a standardized container for high-quality, extensible imagery with metadata and indexing (Frame Index).
• Tooling vendors creating metadata processors (Exif/XMP), transcoders, and bitstream reconstruction tools.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 18181-1:2024 - JPEG XL core codestream (normative)
• ISO/IEC 10918-1 - JPEG baseline (reference)
• ISO/IEC 19566-5 - JUMBF (JPEG universal metadata box format)
• IETF RFC 7932 - Brotli compressed data format

This standard provides the definitive file-level rules for packaging JPEG XL images, ensuring interoperable transport, metadata integration, and extensibility for modern imaging workflows.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO/IEC 18181-2
Second edition
Information technology — JPEG XL
2024-06
image coding system —
Part 2:
File format
Technologies de l'information - Systѐme de codage d'images
JPEG XL —
Partie 2: Format de fichiers
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2024
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General . 2
5 File organization . 2
6 Data types and numerical values . 3
7 Graphical descriptions . 3
8 Binary format of a box . . 4
9 Box types . 4
9.1 JPEG XL Signature box .4
9.2 File Type box .5
9.3 Level box .5
9.4 JUMBF box .5
9.5 Exif box .5
9.6 XML box .6
9.7 Brotli-compressed box .6
9.8 Frame Index box .6
9.9 JPEG XL Codestream box .7
9.10 JPEG XL Partial Codestream box .7
9.11 JPEG Bitstream Reconstruction Data box .8
Annex A (normative) JPEG Bitstream Reconstruction procedure .11
Annex B (normative) JPEG XL Media Type registration .15
Bibliography . 17

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 29, Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 18181-2:2021), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Cross-references to ISO/IEC 18181-1 are updated to match its second edition;
— The JPEG bitstream reconstruction procedure was moved to Annex A and revised to improve clarity;
— Annex B was added, specifying the image/jxl media type registration.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 18181 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iv
International Standard ISO/IEC 18181-2:2024(en)
Information technology — JPEG XL image coding system —
Part 2:
File format
1 Scope
This document specifies the transport and container formats for JPEG XL codestreams as specified in
ISO/IEC 18181-1. This document specifies how to add metadata and extensions to JPEG XL codestreams. A
file as described by this document is called a JPEG XL file.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 18181-1:2024, Information technology — JPEG XL Image Coding System — Part 1: Core coding system
ISO/IEC 10918-1:1994, Information technology — Digital compression and coding of continuous-tone still
images: Requirements and guidelines
ISO/IEC 19566-5, Information technologies — JPEG systems — Part 5: JPEG universal metadata box format (JUMBF)
1)
IETF RFC 7932, Brotli Compressed Data Format
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
box
structured collection of data describing the image or the image decoding process
3.2
box content
data wrapped within the box structure
3.3
box type
kind of information stored within the box
3.4
file format
set of data structures for the storage of metadata and extensions of a codestream
1) https:// www .rfc -editor .org/ info/ rfc7932

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
3.5
JPEG XL file
data file encoded in the file format defined by this document
3.6
superbox
box that carries other boxes as payload data
4 General
This document defines the file format of a JPEG XL file.
A JPEG XL file shall contain a codestream as specified in ISO/IEC 18181-1 and may contain additional
metadata and extensions.
A JPEG XL file shall come in one of the following forms:
— A box structure, as defined in Clause 5;
— A direct JPEG XL codestream without box structure.
The rest of this document only defines the box structure, the codestream without box structure is valid but
is completely specified in ISO/IEC 18181-1.
A decoder shall require the file format to follow either the structure of a codestream without box structure,
or follow the box structure as defined in Clause 5 and follow all box requirements in Clauses 6 to 9. A
decoder can extract the codestream from the box structure and decode the image from the codestream
using the procedure specified in ISO/IEC 18181-1 and can decode the contents of other boxes following their
respective specifications in this document.
NOTE A direct JPEG XL codestream without box structure is also a valid JPEG XL file. This allows, for example, a
more efficient encoding of images for the web, in cases where information encoded in other boxes than the codestream
is not required.
The JPEG XL media type registration for image/jxl is specified in Annex B.
5 File organization
A JPEG XL file using the box structure is formed as a series of boxes. These boxes contain all data within the
file, including the initial signature required by the file format.
NOTE This box-based file format is based on the same syntax as described in ISO/IEC 15444-1:2019, Annex I or
ISO/IEC 15444-2:2021, Annex M, or ISO/IEC 21122-3. The binary format of a box is also described in Clause 8.
Boxes of different types contain different types of data, such as the file signature, metadata and the
codestream. Clause 9 defines box types that may appear in a JPEG XL file and their requirements. Boxes with
an unrecognized type shall be ignored and skipped by the decoder.
A JPEG XL file shall contain a JPEG XL codestream. The codestream can be split across multiple boxes: JPEG
XL partial codestream boxes. In this case, the codestream is formed by the concatenation of the content of all
those boxes.
Any boxes, content and codestreams present in a superbox, such as another JPEG XL file in a JUMBF superbox,
shall not be taken into account for the syntactic requirements of this document; they recursively follow their
applicable specification.
Tables 1 and 2 each show a conceptual box structure of a JPEG XL file, that is a possible series of different box
types that form the file, respectively with a single full codestream box and with multiple partial codestream
boxes. Boxes that may appear multiple times are indicated with ‘…’, optional boxes are indicated with
brackets and required boxes are indicated in bold. These figures are only an indication and do not imply

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
any ordering or counting requirements for the boxes. The decoder shall not make any assumptions about the
ordering of any boxes after the first two, except where indicated.
Table 1 — Conceptual structure (example) of a JPEG XL file using a full codestream box
JPEG XL Signature box
File Type box
Level box
(JPEG XL Frame Index box)
JPEG XL Codestream box
(JUMBF box) …
(Brotli-compressed box containing Exif)
(XML box) …
(Brotli-compressed box containing XML)
(JPEG Bitstream Reconstruction box)
Table 2 — Conceptual structure (example) of a JPEG XL file using partial codestream boxes
JPEG XL Signature box
File Type box
JPEG XL Partial Codestream box …
(JPEG XL Frame Index box)
JPEG XL Partial Codestream box …
(JUMBF box) …
(Exif box)
JPEG XL Partial Codestream box …
(XML box) …
6 Data types and numerical values
Data types used in this document shall be interpreted by the decoder as follows:
— u32: a 32-bit unsigned integer encoded in big endian order (4 bytes).
— u64: a 64-bit unsigned integer encoded in big endian order (8 bytes).
— Varint(): an unsigned integer value of up to 63 bits as a variable length integer in little endian order as
specified in ISO/IEC 18181-1:2024, E.4.2.
— U32(), u(n), Bool: as specified in ISO/IEC 18181-1:2024, B.2.
Numerical values for bytes are given as hexadecimal values, each individually prefixed by 0x. Hexadecimal
byte values are given in the order as they appear in the file. In some cases, these bytes spell out text in ASCII,
this is informatively indicated after the hexadecimal values.
7 Graphical descriptions
Box definitions contain graphical description tables to illustrate the structure of the box. These tables
should be interpreted as follows.
— A sequence of columns is used to indicate the fields of the box and their order (from left to right).
— Optional fields are indicated with brackets.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
— Underline indicates a variable length field. Exact data types or sizes are indicated by name either in the
rectangle after the name of the field, or in a description of the fields outside of the table.
— Multi-column headers may show fields that are grouped in a larger named structure.
Table 3 shows an example of a box with 3 fields:
— A: a name given to a group of the three fields contained within.
— B: required field with a fixed length data type: the type u32
— C: optional field with a fixed length data type (e.g. u32, u64 or a fixed amount of bytes)
— D: required field with a variable length data type (such as Varint(), or remaining amount of bytes)
Table 3 — Example of a graphical description of a box definition
A
B: u32 ( C ) D
8 Binary format of a box
Each box shall have the structure indicated in Table 4. This structure consists of a header indicating size and
box type, and box content.
NOTE 1 This format is also specified in ISO/IEC 15444-1:2019 and ISO/IEC 15444-2:2021.
Table 4 — Binary format of a box
Box header Box content
LBox: u32 TBox: 4 bytes ( XLBox: u64 ) DBox: remaining bytes
The fields given in Table 4 are the following:
— LBox: has type u32. Gives the size of the box in bytes, including the box header fields. If the value is 1,
then XLBox is used instead to indicate the size of the box. If the value is 0, then this box is the last box of
the file, and its data extends to the end of the file. If the value is not 0 or 1, it shall be at least 8.
— TBox: has 4 bytes (e.g. a FourCC code): box type, specifies the type of information found in the box
content, e.g. whether it is a JPEG XL Signature box, a File Type box, and so on.
— XLBox: has type u64. Only present if LBox == 1. If present this field, instead of the LBox field, indicates
the size of the box in bytes. Its value shall be at least 16.
— DBox: has the remaining bytes. The box content (data). The content is formed by all the remaining bytes
of the box. The size of the content in bytes is the box size minus the size of the box header fields. The
format and meaning of this content is indicated by the box type, and Clause 9 defines the format of the
contents that may appear in a JPEG XL file.
NOTE 2 The box size is a multiple of bytes. This includes the JPEG XL codestream box. The JPEG XL codestream is
zero-padded at the end to align to a byte.
9 Box types
9.1 JPEG XL Signature box
The JPEG XL signature box shall contain exactly the following 12 bytes, given as hexadecimal numbers:
— 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x0C
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
— 0x4A 0x58 0x4C 0x20 (the box type `JXL ` in ASCII)
— 0x0D 0x0A 0x87 0x0A
A JPEG XL file shall contain exactly one signature box. The signature box shall be the first box.
9.2 File Type box
The file type box shall contain exactly the following 20 bytes:
— 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x14
— 0x66 0x74 0x79 0x70 (the box type ftyp in ASCII)
— 0x6A 0x78 0x6C 0x20 (`jxl ` in ASCII)
— 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
— 0x6A 0x78 0x6C 0x20 (`jxl ` in ASCII)
A JPEG XL file shall contain exactly one file type box. The file type box shall be the second box. The profile of
the codestream box contained in this file is the Main profile.
9.3 Level box
The type of this box shall be given by the 4 bytes 0x6A 0x78 0x6C 0x6C (jxll in ASCII).
Table 5 shows the contents of a Level box, excluding the box header.
Table 5 — Content of a Level box
level: u8
A JPEG XL file shall contain at most one Level box. If it is present, it shall be the third box, immediately after
the file type box.
If there is no Level box, the level is assumed to be 5. This level applies to the content of the JPEG XL codestream
box, as described in ISO/IEC 18181-1:2024, Annex M.
9.4 JUMBF box
The type of this box shall be given by the 4 bytes 0x6A 0x75 0x6D 0x62 (jumb in ASCII). This box shall follow
the specification defined by ISO/IEC 19566-5.
A JUMBF box is a superbox that shall contain exactly one JUMBF Description box followed by one or more
Content Boxes.
9.5 Exif box
The type of this box shall be given by the 4 bytes 0x45 0x78 0x69 0x66 (Exif in ASCII).
Table 6 shows the contents of an Exif box, excluding the box header.
Table 6 — Content of an Exif box
tiff header offset: u32 Exif payload: remaining bytes
The Exif payload is as described in JEITA CP-3451E or JEITA CP-3461B. The tiff header offset denotes, as
specified in JEITA CP-3461B, the number of bytes, counting from the first byte of the Exif payload to the first

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
byte of the TIFF header of the Exif metadata. The value is zero if the payload starts immediately with the
TIFF header.
NOTE 1 The content of this box is exactly ExifDataBlock as defined in ISO/IEC 23008-12:2022, Annex A.2.
For any Exif fields that have equivalents within the codestream, a decoder shall consider the codestream to
take precedence. Encoders are encouraged to ensure the Exif and codestream fields are identical.
NOTE 2 Examples of such fields include orientation and pixel dimensions.
9.6 XML box
The type of this box shall be given by the 4 bytes 0x78 0x6D 0x6C 0x20 (`xml ` in ASCII).
The XML box contains a well-formed XML document as defined by W3C REC-xml-20081126.
Table 7 shows the content of an XML box.
Table 7 — Content of an XML box
XML data: all bytes
A JPEG XL file may contain multiple XML boxes.
NOTE This box follows the specification of XML Box in ISO/IEC 15444-2:2021.
9.7 Brotli-compressed box
The type of this box shall be given by the 4 bytes 0x62 0x72 0x6F 0x62 (brob in ASCII).
Table 8 shows the contents of a Brotli-compressed box, excluding the box header.
Table 8 — Content of a Brotli-compressed box
payload box type: 4 bytes Brotli-compressed payload: remaining bytes
This box shall be treated as if it is a box of the type given by the first 4 bytes of its contents (the payload
box type), with a contents equal to the Brotli-decompressed data obtained from the remaining bytes. The
payload box type shall not be 0x62 0x72 0x6F 0x62 (brob) and shall not start with 0x6A 0x78 0x6C (jxl) nor
be equal to 0x6A 0x62 0x72 0x64 (jbrd).
Brotli-compressed data shall be decoded as specified in IETF RFC 7932.
9.8 Frame Index box
The type of this box shall be given by the 4 bytes 0x6A 0x78 0x6C 0x69 (jxli in ASCII).
This box contains an index of animation frame offsets. This box is optional and allows a decoder to efficiently
seek the data of a frame based on time or frame order. Not all frames are necessarily listed in the index. All
frames listed in the index shall be “keyframes”. The first frame shall always be listed. Keyframes are defined
such that when a decoder seeks to the beginning of this frame, the result of decoding this frame and future
frames is the same as when the decoder s
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