Monkey's Audio (.ape)
The APE file extension, associated with Monkey's Audio, represents a lossless audio compression format designed to preserve original sound quality while reducing file size. Developed by Matthew T. Ashland in 2000, Monkey's Audio employs advanced algorithms to achieve efficient compression without data loss, making it a preferred choice for audiophiles and digital archiving. APE files support metadata tagging and are widely used in music production, storage, and distribution. While offering superior compression ratios compared to other lossless formats, they require specific software or plugins for playback due to limited native support across mainstream media players.