Compression

Question 1

What is compression?

Answer 1

When we make file sizes smaller while trying to make the compressed file as true to the original as possible.

Question 2

Why do we need compression

Answer 2

1) smaller files take up less storage space
2)downloading files is quicker as they take up less bandwidth
3)allows web pages to load more quickly

Question 3

What are the two types of compression(2)

Answer 3

Lossy(1) lossless(1)

Question 4

What are the benefits of lossy compression

Answer 4

Lossy compression permanently removes data from the file. This reduces the file size and means that the file is no longer identical to the original. However this loss in quality goes unnoticed by humans so that more files can be stored or sent.

Can’t be used on texts or files only videos as files need to retain all the information as the original or it will not make much sense.

Question 5

What are the benefits of lossless compression?

Answer 5

Lossles compression temporarily removes data from the file. This would reduce the file size while the file can still be restored and stay identical to the original file.

This will not lose quality as the file can be restored. However there is a small reduction in file size so still take up quite a bit of space.