Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Lossy compression is a data compression technique that reduces the size of a file by permanently removing certain unnecessary or less important information. This results in a smaller file size, but also leads to some loss of data or quality.
Related terms
Lossless Compression: Lossless compression is another type of data compression technique where the original data can be perfectly reconstructed after decompression without any loss of quality. It achieves compression by finding patterns and redundancies in the data.
JPEG: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a common file format used for lossy compression of images. It allows for significant reduction in file size while maintaining reasonable image quality.
MP3: MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) is an audio coding format commonly used for lossy compression of audio files. It reduces the amount of data in an audio file without causing noticeable degradation in sound quality to most listeners.