OCR GCSE Computer Science Paper 2 Practice 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer pertains to the process of reducing a file's size by permanently removing some of its data, leading to a loss of quality that is often not noticeable to the user. This method is referred to as lossy compression.

Lossy compression is a technique commonly used in audio, video, and image files where some data is discarded in order to reduce the file size significantly. The advantages include reduced storage requirements and faster transmission over networks, but the trade-off is a decline in quality, which is acceptable for many applications.

Other options define different processes:

- File deletion simply refers to removing a file from a system, which doesn’t necessarily relate to size reduction and doesn't involve compressing data.

- Data truncation involves cutting off a part of data but does not specifically refer to compression methods or reducing file size while maintaining file structure or format.

- File archiving typically refers to the process of storing files for long-term retention, which may involve compression but is aimed at preservation rather than specifically altering the file size through loss of quality.

Understanding the specifics of lossy compression clarifies how it effectively reduces file sizes while acknowledging the accompanying reduction in quality.