lossy
A compression method that reduces file size by discarding some data, commonly used in multimedia at the expense of perfect fidelity.
Lossy compression refers to a data reduction technique in which certain information is intentionally discarded to achieve smaller file sizes. Unlike lossless methods, lossy algorithms eliminate less significant data, resulting in compressed files that may not perfectly reproduce the original content.
This approach is widely used in multimedia applications such as image, audio, and video storage, where perfect accuracy is less critical than storage efficiency or transmission speed. Formats like JPEG, MP3, and MPEG rely on lossy compression to balance quality and file size, making them suitable for streaming, sharing, and archiving large volumes of media.
While lossy compression offers substantial benefits in terms of bandwidth and storage savings, it can introduce visible or audible artifacts, especially at higher compression levels. The choice between lossy and lossless methods depends on the use case, required fidelity, and acceptable trade-offs for quality versus efficiency.