Which term describes the process of reducing file size without data loss?

Which term describes the process of reducing file size without data loss?

• A. Data compression
• B. Lossless compression
• C. Packet switching
• D. Lossy compression

Answer: (B)

Lossless compression is the process of reducing file size without losing any information. It works by removing redundancy and encoding data more efficiently so the exact original can be recovered when decompressed. This is what makes it suitable for scenarios where every bit of data must be preserved. By contrast, lossy compression trades some detail for smaller size, meaning the decompressed file is not exactly the same as the original. Data compression is the broader term that includes both lossless and lossy methods, while packet switching relates to how data is sent over a network, not how it’s compressed.

Lossless compression is the process of reducing file size without losing any information. It works by removing redundancy and encoding data more efficiently so the exact original can be recovered when decompressed. This is what makes it suitable for scenarios where every bit of data must be preserved. By contrast, lossy compression trades some detail for smaller size, meaning the decompressed file is not exactly the same as the original. Data compression is the broader term that includes both lossless and lossy methods, while packet switching relates to how data is sent over a network, not how it’s compressed.