lossy compression

**Lossy Compression**

Lossy compression is a data encoding method that reduces file size by permanently eliminating some data, typically imperceptible to human senses. Commonly used in multimedia files such as images, audio, and video, lossy compression balances file size and quality to optimize storage and bandwidth. Popular formats employing lossy compression include JPEG for images and MP3 for audio. While it significantly decreases file size, some quality loss is inevitable, making it less suitable for scenarios requiring perfect data preservation.