When is file compression used

View Full Term. By clicking sign up, you agree to receive emails from Techopedia and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. File compression is a data compression method in which the logical size of a file is reduced to save disk space for easier and faster transmission over a network or the Internet. It enables the creation of a version of one or more files with the same data at a size substantially smaller than the original file. File compression is enabled through a file or data compression software that creates a compressed version of each processed file.

Typically, file compression works by scanning an entire file, identifying similar or repetitive data and patterns and replacing duplicates with a unique identifier. This identifier is usually much smaller in size than the original word and consumes less space. Thus, the size of the compressed file is considerably smaller. Although there is no exact measurement of the actual reduced size of the compressed file, file compression reduces a file's size by 50 to 90 percent.

By: Justin Stoltzfus Contributor, Reviewer. By: Satish Balakrishnan. Related file extensions:. ZIP ,. RAR ,. SITX ,. The definition of File Compression on this page is an original TechTerms.

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Subscribe to the daily or weekly newsletter and get featured terms and quizzes delivered to your inbox. Compressing encrypted, or secure data files that are protected with some kind of encryption isn't possible, so once encrypted they can't be compressed.

Lastly, it can take a computer more time than normal to access a compressed file, so users with older computers may want to avoid compressing too many files. Compressing a file requires that a program or application be used to compress the file. If a lossy compression file method is used, such as the. JPEG also known as. JPG graphic format, the original file can't be restored after the file is compressed. ZIP file type uses a program ZIP to compress the data in a file more efficiently but doesn't lose any of the original data.

In the past, the Windows operating system required outside programs, such as WinZip, to compress and uncompress, or extract, files. File compression is a boon for many computers and technology users.

It makes data easier to send so we can watch movies on our cell phones, send videos on Facebook, and listen to music. There's probably a day that doesn't go by when you haven't used a compressed file if you listen to music on your smartphone, download a photo when viewing a website, or binge-watched your favorite show on Netflix.