What is Lossless Compression?
Lossless compression reduces file size without discarding pixel data. The decoded image is identical to the original. Algorithms like DEFLATE (PNG) and lossless WebP exploit repeated patterns and palette optimization rather than approximating colors.
Lossless vs lossy
Lossy formats such as JPEG permanently remove detail humans barely notice. Lossless formats preserve every pixel — better for screenshots and brand assets where banding or blur is unacceptable.