uncompressed

Uncompressed data refers to data that has not been subjected to a compression algorithm. In practice, uncompressed data represents the original values in a straightforward representation, such as binary PCM samples or per-pixel color values. Because no encoding step is applied, uncompressed data is typically larger than compressed forms but preserves exact fidelity and predictability for processing.

In digital audio, uncompressed formats use pulse-code modulation (PCM). Common containers include WAV and AIFF. For CD-quality audio, data are 16-bit samples at 44.1 kHz, stereo, giving about 1.4 Mbps. Higher bit depths or sampling rates increase data rates. Uncompressed audio avoids compression artifacts and codec latency, at the cost of larger file sizes and higher I/O demands.

In still images, uncompressed refers to raw pixel data, as in bitmap files (BMP) or raw image formats. Each pixel is stored as color channel values (for example, 24-bit RGB). Uncompressed TIFFs may be used in professional workflows; in contrast, JPEG or PNG stores the same image using compression, whether lossless or lossy.

In video, uncompressed video is a sequence of raw frames, often used in professional workflows despite enormous data rates. Formats such as DPX or raw YUV frames are examples. Uncompressed video guarantees fidelity and simple processing but requires very high bandwidth and storage capacity.

Overall, uncompressed data is favored when fidelity, predictable processing, or intermediary workspaces are priorities, while compressed formats are used to save storage and bandwidth. The term distinguishes data that has not been encoded from data that uses lossless or lossy compression.