Which principle does lossless compression adhere to?

Lossless compression adheres to the principle that data is reduced but can be perfectly reconstructed. This technique is crucial for applications where the integrity of the original data must be preserved, such as in text documents, certain image formats like PNG, and other types of files where any loss of information would be detrimental.

In lossless compression, algorithms analyze the data and find ways to reduce its size without removing any essential information. This is achieved through various methods, such as removing redundancies and using efficient coding schemes. When the file is decompressed, it returns to its original state, ensuring that no data has been lost in the process.

This principle is essential in many fields, including forensic investigations, where maintaining the integrity of the original data is paramount. Therefore, lossless compression is widely utilized in scenarios where data accuracy is critical, distinguishing it from lossy compression methods that sacrifice some data quality for greater compression ratios.