Abstract: This invention optimizes the entropy encoding part of JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) image compression by modifying the run length encoding method that performs the actual compression by removing the redundancy from transformed and quantized image data. Using the fact that the preceding processes of run length coding, in JPEG compression algorithm, produces a large number of zeros, the original run length coding uses an ordered pair (a,b), where ‘a’ is the length of consecutive zeros preceding the ASCII character ‘b’. The proposed run length encoding scheme removes an unintended redundancy, from the original run length encoding scheme, by using an ordered pair only when a zero occurs and using the same EOB (End of Block) parameter at the end of each block. The proposed encoding scheme does not alter the value of PSNR but is found to be very effective in reducing the size of JPEG compressed image data.