What type of compression refers to the loss of data when an approximation of the original image is reconstructed?

The term describing the loss of data when an approximation of the original image is reconstructed is known as lossy compression. This type of compression reduces file size by permanently eliminating certain information, particularly in ways that are less likely to be perceptible to the human eye. For example, in scenarios involving images or audio, details that may not be essential for visual or auditory perception can be discarded, allowing for significant reductions in file size.

Lossy compression is commonly used in formats like JPEG for images and MP3 for audio, where slight losses in quality can be acceptable in exchange for greatly reduced file sizes. This approach is beneficial in applications where storage space is limited or where bandwidth considerations make smaller files necessary for streaming or transmission.

In contrast, lossless compression retains all the original data, ensuring that the exact original image or sound can be perfectly reconstructed, which is important in applications where fidelity is critical. Spatial compression and temporal compression refer to different methodologies pertaining to video and image data, focusing on how data can be arranged or coded but do not inherently involve the principle of data loss.