Andmekompressiooniks

Andmekompressiooniks is a term that refers to data compression in Estonian. Data compression is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation. This is achieved by identifying and eliminating redundancy in the data. There are two main types of data compression: lossless and lossy.

Lossless compression reduces file size without losing any information. When the compressed file is decompressed, it is an exact replica of the original data. This is essential for data where accuracy is paramount, such as text files, executable programs, and certain image formats like PNG. Common lossless compression algorithms include Huffman coding and Lempel-Ziv variations (like LZ77 and LZ78).

Lossy compression, on the other hand, achieves higher compression ratios by discarding some data that is considered less important or imperceptible to human senses. This type of compression is widely used for multimedia files like images (JPEG), audio (MP3), and video (MP4). While the decompressed data is not identical to the original, the differences are often negligible for practical purposes, leading to significantly smaller file sizes.

The choice between lossless and lossy compression depends on the nature of the data and the desired outcome. For general-purpose storage and transmission, data compression is a fundamental technique for efficient use of storage space and network bandwidth.