lossy and lossless compression

what is data compression

Data compression is the process of reducing the size of a file so it requires less storage space or can be transmitted more quickly.

what is lossless compression

Lossless compression reduces file size without permanently removing data. The original file can be perfectly reconstructed after decompression.

what is lossy compression

Lossy compression reduces file size by permanently removing some data, meaning the original file cannot be perfectly reconstructed.

Why is lossless compression used for text files and programs?

Because losing even a small piece of data could corrupt the file or change its meaning. Lossless compression ensures the file can be restored exactly.

Why is lossy compression often used for images, audio, and video?

Because these files are very large, and small losses in quality are often not noticeable to humans, allowing much higher compression.

What is the key difference between lossy and lossless compression?

Lossless compression allows perfect reconstruction of the original data, while lossy compression permanently removes some data to achieve higher compression.

Explain why lossy compression is commonly used for images and videos.

Images and videos can contain very large amounts of data. Lossy compression removes data that is less noticeable to human senses, significantly reducing file size. This makes files easier to store and faster to transmit, while the loss in quality is often minimal or unnoticeable