What is Data Compression and its types

Learn about Data Compression:

Data compression is a process in which the number of data bits is reduced, thereby decreasing the size of the data. The purpose of this process is to increase storage capacity and improve file transfer speed.

The main advantage of data compression is that it allows the same amount of data to be stored and transmitted using fewer bits, leading to more effective use of resources.

Types of Data Compression

1. Lossless Compression: In this type of compression, the data size is reduced, but there is no loss of data. The original data can be perfectly reconstructed when the data is decompressed. This type of compression is used for documents containing text to ensure every part of the data is preserved.
2. Lossy Compression: This is a type of compression in which some data is lost. The original form of the data cannot be recovered upon decompression. This type of compression is often used for multimedia files like images, audio, and graphics, where losing some data does not significantly affect the quality.