Lossy compression is a type of data compression method in which some amount of data is lost during the compression process. This loss of information is irreversible, meaning that the original file cannot be perfectly reconstructed from the compressed version. Here are some key features: 1. **Data Integrity**: Lossy compression results in a loss of some original data, which is generally not recoverable. 2. **Compression Ratio**: Achieves higher compression ratios compared to lossless methods, making the compressed file significantly smaller. 3. **Irreversibility**: The process is irreversible, and the quality of the original data may degrade. 4. **Algorithms**: Common algorithms include JPEG for images and MP3 for audio. 5. **File Types**: Primarily used for multimedia files like images, audio, and video where some loss of quality is acceptable. 6. **Applications**: Well-suited for web applications, streaming services, and consumer electronics where storage space and bandwidth are limitations. 7. **Quality Settings**: Many lossy algorithms allow for adjustable compression settings, letting you balance between file size and quality. 8. **CPU Usage**: Can be CPU-intensive, depending on the complexity of the algorithm and the quality settings chosen. 9. **File Extensions**: Common extensions include .jpg, .mp3, .aac, and .mpeg. 10. **Real-Time Capability**: Often used in real-time applications due to its higher compression rates and faster processing times. References: - ["Lossy Image Compression: Comparative Image Quality Assessment of JPEG2000, JPEG and JPEG XR"](https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/7259/72590F/Lossy-image-compression--comparative-image-quality-assessment-of/10.1117/12.806455.short) - ["Introduction to Data Compression"](https://www.elsevier.com/books/introduction-to-data-compression/sayood/978-0-12-809474-7)