Anyone who has to deal with digital files knows about file compression. It is an essential part of our daily business. When sending a large file or a bunch of big files online, we compress them first before sending them on their way. Here we discuss, what is file compression, how the process of file compression works, and how you can send a large file online without using a compression tool.
What Is File Compression?
File compression or zipping is a process to create a smaller version of the file so it becomes easier to share them over a network or the internet. It also helps you save disc space on your hard drive. Many free compression tools are available in the market that let you compress large files within minutes. The actual reduced size of a compressed file is not fixed and depends on many factors. Usually, a file compression tool reduces the file size by 50 to 90 percent.
How Does File Compression Work? Do You Lose Quality?
Different file compression methods are there, such as ZIP, RAR, ARJ, ARC, CAB, and others. Most techniques reduce the file size by getting rid of redundant information. They scan the file to find similar or repetitive data and patterns and replace them with a unique identifier.
For example, text files or spreadsheets contain many repetitive patterns; thus, when you compress them, you get a significantly smaller file. On the other hand, when you compress a JPEG image file or an MP3 video file, the size difference is minimal.
Compression can be lossless or lossy. Lossless compression contains all the data that was there in the original file. When you unzip the file, it retains all the details of the original file.
However, in lossy compression, you lose some amount of data. Compression can reduce image resolution by removing unnecessary data.
Sending Big Files Online without Compression Tools
It is a usual practice to compress your large files into a Zip folder before sending them online. But the process takes time. If it is a significantly large file, the time can be frustrating. Also, occasionally, it may corrupt the file. That means when the recipient receives the file and downloads it, they find that the files cannot be opened.
You can solve this issue with an online file-sharing platform like Bigg.ly. You do not need any compression tool when you use this service. You just need to drag and drop your files and provide the details, including the recipient’s and your email address. Bigg.ly will compress them into a uniquely named zipped file and send them to the intended recipient. The recipient can then download the folder and extract the files by using a free tool such as 7zip or The Unarchiver.