Tömörítést

Tömörítést refers to the process of reducing the size of a digital file. This is achieved by identifying and eliminating redundant or unnecessary data within the file, or by representing the data in a more efficient format. Compression is crucial for efficient storage and transmission of digital information.

There are two main types of compression: lossless and lossy. Lossless compression, as the name suggests, reduces file size without any loss of original data. When a losslessly compressed file is decompressed, it is identical to the original. This type of compression is essential for data where accuracy is paramount, such as text documents, executable programs, and certain image formats like PNG. Examples of lossless compression algorithms include ZIP, GZIP, and PNG.

Lossy compression, on the other hand, achieves greater compression ratios by permanently discarding some of the original data. This is acceptable for data where perfect fidelity is not strictly required, such as audio and video files, or photographic images. The discarded data is typically information that is less perceptible to human senses. While this results in a smaller file size and faster transmission, it means the decompressed file is not identical to the original. Common examples of lossy compression include JPEG for images, MP3 for audio, and MPEG for video. The choice between lossless and lossy compression depends on the specific application and the trade-off between file size and data integrity.