New
New
Year 10
AQA

The need for compression

I can describe why data compression is used and explain its advantages.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

The need for compression

I can describe why data compression is used and explain its advantages.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Compression reduces file sizes, making storage and transmission more efficient.
  2. Compressed files load faster on websites and take less time to send or receive.
  3. Commonly compressed files include images, videos, audio, and documents.

Keywords

  • Compression - the process of reducing file size

  • Bandwidth - the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a communication channel

  • Latency - the time delay between a signal being sent and a signal being received

Common misconception

Compression is only useful for pictures or photos.

Compression applies to many types of files such as MP3 for audio, MP4 for video, ZIP for grouped files.


To help you plan your year 10 computer science lesson on: The need for compression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students if they have already come across different methods of compresison such as MP3, MP4 and JPEG. Get them to take a look at their own files and see if they have been using compressed files without even realising it.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the smallest unit of digital information?
byte
Correct answer: bit
kilobyte
megabyte
Q2.
How many bits are in a byte?
Correct Answer: 8, eight
Q3.
What does the prefix 'kilo' represent in computing?
10
100
Correct answer: 1000
10 000
Q4.
Put these binary numbers in sequence from smallest to largest:
1 - 00
2 - 01
3 - 10
4 - 11
5 - 100
6 - 101
7 - 110
Q5.
Which file type is likely to take up the most storage?
text file
image file
Correct answer: video file
spreadsheet
Q6.
What is one key advantage of storing files in the cloud?
files are accessible on only one device
files take up more physical storage space
files are no longer secure
Correct answer: files can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What process reduces file sizes to make storage and transmission more efficient?
Correct Answer: compression, compress
Q2.
What is bandwidth?
Correct answer: the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a communication channel
the time delay between sending and receiving a signal
the process of reducing file size
the total storage space on a device
Q3.
What is the relationship between compression and bandwidth?
Correct answer: Compression decreases bandwidth usage.
Compression has no effect on bandwidth.
Compression increases bandwidth usage.
Compression slows down bandwidth.
Q4.
Why is compression important for websites?
It increases page loading time.
Correct answer: It reduces page loading time.
It uses more bandwidth.
It decreases website quality.
Q5.
Which of these is NOT a compressed file format?
MP3
JPEG
MP4
Correct answer: EXE
Q6.
Match each file format with the type of file it is commonly used for.
Correct Answer:MP3,compressed audio

compressed audio

Correct Answer:MP4,compressed video

compressed video

Correct Answer:JPEG,compressed image

compressed image

Correct Answer:ZIP,compressed group of files

compressed group of files