1. application (Or "compaction") The coding of data to save
storage space or transmission time. Although data is already
coded in digital form for computer processing, it can often be
coded more efficiently (using fewer bits). For example,
(or other units of data) with a single character and a count.
There are many compression
algorithms and utilities.
Compressed data must be decompressed before it can be used.
though
GNU's superior
gzip has largely replaced it. Other
When compressing several similar files, it is usually better
to join the files together into an
archive of some kind
(using
tar for example) and then compress them, rather than
to join together individually compressed files. This is
because some common compression
algorithms build up tables
based on the data from their current input which they have
already compressed. They then use this table to compress
subsequent data more efficiently.
2. multimedia Reducing the dynamic range of an audio signal,
making quiet sounds louder and loud sounds quieter. Thus,
when discussing digital audio, the preferred term for reducing
the total amount of data is "compaction". Some advocate this
term in all contexts.
(2001-01-30)