What is Gzip?
Gzip (GNU zip) is a popular file format and software application used for file compression and decompression. It employs the DEFLATE algorithm to reduce file sizes, making data storage and transfer more efficient, especially over the web. You often encounter it with `.gz` file extensions or in HTTP content encoding.
Why is Gzip Useful?
- Faster Web Performance: Reduces download times for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
- Bandwidth Savings: Lowers data transfer costs for servers and users.
- Wide Compatibility: Supported by most web servers and browsers.