File Compression: Terms and Definitions
Lossless Compression
- ● Preserves all original data exactly
- ● Common formats: GIF, PNG, PDF, ZIP
Lossy Compression
- ● Reduces file size by removing some data
- ● Best for: JPG (photos), MP3 (audio), MP4 (video)
Run-Length Encoding (RLE)
- ● Repeats data patterns efficiently
- ● Example:
000000→6 0
Compression Artifacts
- ● Visual defects from heavy compression
- ● Common in low-quality streaming and compressed JPGs
Key Tips:
- ● Use lossless for documents/logos
- ● Lossy works best for web content
- ● Artifacts show where data was removed