FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A support technician is explaining file compression to a user. Which THREE of the following are examples of lossless compression formats? (Select THREE).
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the distinction between lossless and lossy formats. Candidates might mistakenly include MP3 or JPEG as lossless because they are common, but they are lossy. Remember: FLAC, PNG, and ZIP are lossless.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
FLAC
FLAC (B) is correct because it is a lossless audio codec that compresses PCM audio without discarding any samples, allowing bit-perfect reconstruction of the original waveform. PNG (D) is correct because it is a lossless image format that uses DEFLATE compression and preserves all pixel data exactly, which is why it suits graphics and screenshots. ZIP (E) is correct because it is a lossless archive format that uses DEFLATE (or similar) to compress files while preserving their exact original bytes upon extraction. MP3 (A) is not correct because it is a lossy audio format that removes perceptually less important frequency components, so the original data cannot be fully recovered. JPEG (C) is not correct because it is a lossy image format that discards high-frequency detail through DCT quantization, meaning decompression yields an approximation rather than the exact original.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
MP3
Why it's wrong here
MP3 uses psychoacoustic modelling to discard frequencies the ear cannot perceive, so decoded audio differs permanently from the source. It is tempting because MP3 shrinks files dramatically, and would be correct where the question asked for a lossy audio format.
- ✓
FLAC
Why this is correct
FLAC compresses audio without discarding any data, so the decoded output is bit-for-bit identical to the original recording. This satisfies the stem's requirement for a lossless format, unlike lossy codecs such as MP3 or AAC that permanently remove audio information to achieve smaller file sizes.
- ✗
JPEG
Why it's wrong here
JPEG quantises and discards high-frequency image data during encoding, so pixels are irreversibly altered on decode. It is tempting because JPEG compresses photographs efficiently, and would be correct where the question asked for a lossy image format.
- ✓
PNG
Why this is correct
PNG applies lossless compression through DEFLATE-style filtering and entropy coding, so every pixel is reconstructed exactly on decompression. This satisfies the lossless criterion, unlike JPEG, which discards high-frequency detail during its lossy discrete cosine transform stage.
- ✓
ZIP
Why this is correct
ZIP compresses each archived file losslessly using DEFLATE, restoring the original bytes exactly on extraction. This satisfies the lossless criterion, distinguishing it from lossy audio or video codecs that permanently discard perceptual data to achieve smaller sizes.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on FC0-U71
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user wants to store a file with lossless compression. Which TWO of the following file formats support lossless compression? (Select TWO.)
medium- A.MP3
- ✓ B.PNG
- C.BMP
- D.JPEG
- ✓ E.ZIP
Why B: PNG and ZIP are lossless; JPEG is lossy; MP3 is lossy; BMP is uncompressed.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.