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Compression in computing is a process that involves reducing the amount of hard disk memory that a certain file uses, which is a common way to store or make room for new data.
Purpose
File compression reduces the memory space needed to store data by saving files in an abbreviated form. Some types of file compression drop data, which can degrade the quality of the compressed file, while others can maintain the full quality of the original.
Benefits
Compression can allow more data to be saved to a single storage device. Compressed files can also be transferred faster from one storage device to another.
Effects
File compression can affect the quality of a file which can be especially noticeable in media files such as audio, video and images. A compressed video may have reduced resolution or lower quality sound for instance.
Processing Power
File compression requires a large number of calculations, which can make it take a long time for larger files. Computers with more powerful processors will be able to compress more efficiently.
Considerations
Unless you store a large amount of data on your computer or transfer large files between computers or over the Internet, file compression is probably not necessary.
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