1. Lossy vs Lossless compression

2. What is compression and why do we need it
Compression is when you condense a file into a smaller space with hopes to make the file smaller (therefore easier to store) but keep as much quality as possible. The most commonly used types of compression are lossy and lossless.
We need compression because it saves time if the compressed file is sent as an attachment. As there is a smaller size to send. Also it will save storage space on your computer if you have smaller file sizes.

3. What is Lossy compression
Lossy compression is where a file is compressed by taking out unimportant information from a file. For example any unnecessary information within the file will be removed to make the folder smaller.
One advantage of lossy compression is that it is relatively easy to compress files that have a lot of useless information that isn’t required. Which makes it faster than lossless compression
However one disadvantage of lossy compression is that once you have compressed the file it is impossible to restore the file to its original state. Due to information being taken away from a file and it can’t be bought back.

4. What is Lossless compression
Lossless compression is when a file is compressed by breaking it up into smaller sections which are then stored. Then the file can be then restored once it is being used or is required to be used. Therefore allowing it to be fully restored.
One advantage of lossless compression is that the file is fully restored to its original state meaning it doesn’t have a low quality.
One disadvantage of lossless compression is that the file compression takes a lot longer than lossy to compress a file.

5. Similarities between the two compression
They both compress files into a smaller file
They are both program based
They both can be programmed

6. Differences between the two compressions
Lossy:
Unimportant data is removed
Faster than lossless
Lossless:
Data is kept
Slower than lossy

7. Examples of using lossy and lossless files
JPEG
MP3
MPEG
Lossless:
Zip files
PNG
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)