You are now entering the PC Anatomy portal

Lossless is a computer term describing data compression that reduces file size without any loss of original information. This method allows the file to be perfectly reconstructed from the compressed version because it preserves every bit of data. It is often used for critical files like documents, executables, or professional media, where retaining complete accuracy is essential, unlike lossy compression which permanently removes some data.

Key characteristics of lossless compression

Data preservation: All original data is kept, ensuring the decompressed file is identical to the original.

Reversibility: The compression algorithm is deterministic and reversible, meaning it's a two-way process where the original is restored exactly.

Reduced file size: While it shrinks files, the goal is to reduce size efficiently by finding and encoding redundancies, such as repeating patterns in data, without discarding anything.

Use cases: It is ideal for files where fidelity is paramount, such as professional audio/video editing, software executables, and high-quality images (e.g., PNG, FLAC, WAV).

Trade-off: The primary trade-off is that lossless compression typically results in larger file sizes compared to lossy compression techniques.