lossless
A compression method that preserves all original data, ensuring perfect fidelity after decompression.
Lossless compression is a data reduction technique that allows files to be compressed and then perfectly restored to their original state upon decompression. Unlike lossy methods, lossless algorithms retain all information, making them ideal for applications where data integrity is critical.
This approach is commonly used in text, data, and some image formats (such as PNG and FLAC), where preserving every bit of information is essential. Lossless methods typically achieve lower compression ratios than lossy ones but guarantee that no data is lost in the process.
Lossless compression is vital in scientific, legal, and archival contexts, where original data must be preserved for accuracy, compliance, or future use. The choice between lossless and lossy compression depends on the application's requirements for fidelity, storage efficiency, and acceptable trade-offs.