Rate-Distortion Theory

Rate-Distortion Theory analyzes how efficiently data can be compressed while maintaining an acceptable level of quality or accuracy. It seeks to find the optimal balance between reducing the size of data (rate) and the amount of distortion or loss in the reconstructed information. Essentially, it answers the question: "How much can data be compressed without compromising its usefulness?" The theory guides the design of compression algorithms, ensuring minimal data size with controlled, tolerable degradation, which is vital in many applications like streaming, imaging, and communications.