FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A technician is explaining the difference between lossy and lossless compression to a colleague. Which of the following file formats uses lossy compression?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests format-to-compression mapping — candidates confuse GIF's color limitation with lossy compression, or assume ZIP (an archive) is lossy because it 'compresses.'
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
✓
JPEG
JPEG uses lossy compression, discarding some image data (typically high-frequency detail) to achieve much smaller file sizes, which is acceptable for photographs where minor quality loss is imperceptible. This is the defining characteristic of lossy compression.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
GIF
Why it's wrong here
GIF uses lossless compression.
- ✗
PNG
Why it's wrong here
PNG applies DEFLATE, a lossless algorithm, so every pixel is reconstructed exactly; it cannot discard data. It tempts because PNG is a common web image format often confused with JPEG, yet it is the correct choice when screenshots, logos or line art demand pixel-perfect fidelity without artefacts.
- ✓
JPEG
Why this is correct
JPEG applies lossy compression, discarding image detail to shrink file size, which is why artefacts appear at high compression. Lossless formats such as PNG and GIF preserve exact data, making JPEG the correct answer here.
- ✗
ZIP
Why it's wrong here
ZIP is a lossless archive container using DEFLATE, preserving every byte of the compressed files. It tempts because it shrinks media files dramatically, but it is the correct choice for packaging documents, source code or any data where exact reconstruction is required, not for reducing image quality.
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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.