resizing

Resizing refers to altering the dimensions of an object or image, typically by changing width and height. It is used in digital media, graphic design, document processing, and user interfaces to fit content to different displays, layouts, or storage constraints. Resizing can preserve the aspect ratio to avoid distortion or allow free distortion, depending on the goal.

In raster graphics, resizing changes the number of pixels. Upscaling increases pixel count and can produce blur or jagged edges; downscaling reduces data and may blur or alias if not properly filtered. Interpolation algorithms determine how new pixel values are estimated; common methods include nearest neighbor, bilinear, bicubic, and Lanczos. Higher-order methods can improve quality but require more computation. Anti-aliasing and prefiltering help reduce artifacts when reducing size. Some advanced techniques, such as content-aware resizing, attempt to preserve important content while changing aspect ratio.

Vector graphics and text are typically resolution-independent. Scaling a vector image or a font expands or reduces its coordinates and outlines without introducing raster artifacts, though the final rendering depends on the target resolution and rasterizer settings. This makes vector-based resizing inherently lossless compared with raster resizing.

In user interfaces and responsive design, resizing affects layout and readability. Window resizing, zooming, and adaptive layouts enable content to adapt to different screens and user preferences. Designers balance legibility, performance, and file size when implementing resizing in software and web design.