Which image file format is known for using lossy compression?

Which image file format is known for using lossy compression?

• A. BMP
• B. GIF
• C. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
• D. PNG

Answer: (C)

Lossy compression reduces file size by discarding some image data, trading some fidelity for smaller files. JPEG is the format that uses this approach. It applies techniques that remove fine details—especially high-frequency information—through quantization after a transform, which lets it substantially shrink photo files with adjustable quality. This makes JPEG the go-to choice for photographs where smaller size is important, even though some detail is sacrificed. In contrast, BMP usually stores pixel data without compression, GIF uses a lossless method but limited to 256 colors, and PNG is also lossless, preserving all data. So JPEG is the one known for lossy compression.

Lossy compression reduces file size by discarding some image data, trading some fidelity for smaller files. JPEG is the format that uses this approach. It applies techniques that remove fine details—especially high-frequency information—through quantization after a transform, which lets it substantially shrink photo files with adjustable quality. This makes JPEG the go-to choice for photographs where smaller size is important, even though some detail is sacrificed. In contrast, BMP usually stores pixel data without compression, GIF uses a lossless method but limited to 256 colors, and PNG is also lossless, preserving all data. So JPEG is the one known for lossy compression.