What is the purpose of data compression?

Data compression is primarily aimed at representing data more efficiently and reducing file size. When data is compressed, it occupies less storage space, which is beneficial for saving storage resources and optimizing data transfer. This can lead to quicker upload and download times, as smaller files can be moved more swiftly over networks.

Compression techniques reduce redundancy in the data, which directly contributes to the decrease in file size. Efficiently using storage can be crucial in various computing contexts, including saving space on devices, speeding up transmission over the internet, and managing large data sets more effectively in databases.

While other aspects, such as improving security or enhancing data quality, are important in data management, they are not the primary focus of data compression. The main goal is to manage storage and transmission efficiency by lowering the size of the data without necessarily altering its intrinsic quality or security features.