1. What is Compression Ratio?

Compression ratio in computer science measures the effectiveness of data compression algorithms. It represents the ratio between the original data size and the compressed data size, indicating how much the data has been reduced.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the compression ratio formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Original Size} \) — Size of data before compression (bytes)
• \( \text{Compressed Size} \) — Size of data after compression (bytes)

Explanation: A higher ratio indicates better compression efficiency. For example, a ratio of 4:1 means the compressed data is 25% of the original size.

3. Importance of Compression Ratio

Details: Compression ratio is crucial for evaluating storage efficiency, transmission speed, and bandwidth usage. It helps determine the effectiveness of compression algorithms and their suitability for different applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both original and compressed sizes in bytes. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good compression ratio?
A: A good compression ratio depends on the data type and algorithm. Generally, ratios above 2:1 are considered good, with some algorithms achieving 10:1 or higher for specific data types.

Q2: Can compression ratio be less than 1?
A: No, compression ratio should always be ≥1. If compressed size is larger than original, it indicates poor compression or data expansion.

Q3: What factors affect compression ratio?
A: Data redundancy, compression algorithm, data type (text, images, video), and compression settings all affect the final ratio.

Q4: What's the difference between lossless and lossy compression ratios?
A: Lossy compression typically achieves higher ratios by permanently removing some data, while lossless compression preserves all original data but usually has lower ratios.

Q5: How does compression ratio relate to compression percentage?
A: Compression percentage = (1 - (Compressed Size / Original Size)) × 100%. A 4:1 ratio corresponds to 75% compression.