Difference between Lossy Compression and Lossless Compression

Data Compression refers to a technique where a large file to reduced to smaller sized
file and can be decompressed again to the large file. Lossy compression restores the
large file to its original form with loss of some data which can be considered as not-
noticable while lossless compression restores the large file to its original form without
any loss of data.
Following are some of the important differences between Lossy Compression and
Lossless Compression.

Sr. Key Lossy Compression Lossless Compression

No.

Data Lossy compression eliminates those Lossless compression keeps even

1 Elimination bytes which are considered as not- those bytes which are not-
noticable. noticable.

Restoration After lossy compression, a file cannot After lossless compression, a file
2
be restored to its original form. can be restored to its original form.

Quality Lossy compression leads to No quality degradation happens in

3
compromise with quality. lossless compression.

Size Lossy compression reduces the size Lossless compression reduces the
4 of file to large extent. size but less as compared to lossy
compression.

Algorithm Transform coding, Discrete Cosine Run length encoding, Lempel-Ziv-

5 used Transform, Discrete Wavelet Welch, Huffman Coding, Arithmetic
transform, fractal compression etc. encoding etc.

Uses Lossy compression is used to Lossless compression is used to

6
compress audio, video and images. compress text, images and sound.

Capacity Lossy compression technique has Lossless compression has low data
7 high data holding capacity. holding capacity as compared to
lossy compression.