compression

Flashcards covering the key concepts of data compression, including the goals, types (Lossy and Lossless), and their respective advantages and disadvantages.

What is the main goal of compression?

To reduce file size for various reasons such as taking up less space and quicker transfer/access.

What are the two main types of compression?

Lossy and Lossless compression.

How does Lossy compression work?

It uses a set of instructions to remove small parts of data that won’t be noticed by humans, like removing frequencies humans can't hear in a sound file.

What is a major drawback of Lossy compression?

Data is permanently removed, which causes the overall quality to decline forever.

How does Lossless compression work?

It reduces file size without removing any data; it replaces repeated runs with data pairs, rearranging data to take up less space.

What is a limitation of Lossless compression compared to Lossy compression?

Lossless files usually end up larger than lossy files.