lossy

algorithm A term describing a data compression algorithm

which actually reduces the amount of information in the data,

rather than just the number of bits used to represent that

information. The lost information is usually removed because

it is subjectively less important to the quality of the data

(usually an image or sound) or because it can be recovered

reasonably by interpolation from the remaining data.

MPEG and JPEG are examples of lossy compression

techniques.

Opposite: lossless.

(1995-03-29)