What term describes compression that reduces file size by discarding some information?

What term describes compression that reduces file size by discarding some information?

• A. Lossless compression
• B. Lossy compression
• C. Reversible compression
• D. No compression

Answer: (B)

Compression that reduces file size by discarding some information is called lossy compression. It intentionally removes data to shrink the file, so the original cannot be perfectly recovered from the compressed version. This trade-off is common in media like JPEG images and MP3 audio, where a smaller size is prioritized over perfect fidelity. In contrast, lossless compression preserves all information and lets you reconstruct the exact original, with examples like ZIP or PNG. The idea of “reversible compression” is not the standard label for this behavior, and no compression means the data isn’t reduced at all.

Compression that reduces file size by discarding some information is called lossy compression. It intentionally removes data to shrink the file, so the original cannot be perfectly recovered from the compressed version. This trade-off is common in media like JPEG images and MP3 audio, where a smaller size is prioritized over perfect fidelity. In contrast, lossless compression preserves all information and lets you reconstruct the exact original, with examples like ZIP or PNG. The idea of “reversible compression” is not the standard label for this behavior, and no compression means the data isn’t reduced at all.