← Back to BlogImage compression isn't magic—it's advanced mathematics in action. JPEG and similar formats use the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to convert image data into frequency components, quantization to discard less perceptible frequencies, and Huffman coding for efficient bitstream encoding. Lossless compression (like PNG) relies on techniques such as run-length encoding and DEFLATE. Newer formats like WebP/AVIF utilize even more sophisticated machine learning models and perceptual optimizations to pack more quality into fewer bytes. Understanding these algorithms is key for developers aiming to wring every last byte from visuals while preserving clarity.
The Science Behind Image Compression Algorithms (DCT, Quantization, Huffman Coding)
Technical Deep Dive
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