Data compression

Data compression is the process of reducing the size of a file or dataset by encoding its information more efficiently. This is done to save storage space or to speed up data transfer over the internet. There are two main types: lossless compression, which allows the original data to be perfectly reconstructed, and lossy compression, which sacrifices some quality for a smaller size, as seen in images and audio. Common examples include ZIP files for documents and MP3 for music. Ultimately, data compression enables easier handling and sharing of information without significant loss of quality.