What is the purpose of video compression?

The purpose of video compression is primarily to reduce the file size of video content while maintaining acceptable levels of quality for playback and distribution. By lowering the image quality, compression algorithms achieve a more manageable file size that is easier to store and transmit over various mediums, such as the internet or physical media.

Compression techniques often remove redundancies in the video data, which helps in achieving significant reductions in file size without excessively compromising visual fidelity. This is particularly important for streaming videos online, where faster download speeds and minimal buffering are essential for a smooth viewing experience.

Other options do not accurately represent the essence of video compression. Enhancing image quality would contradict the primary goal of reducing data size. Increasing the overall file size runs counter to the intent of compression, which is to make files smaller. Lastly, converting video files into MIDI format is unrelated, as MIDI is a standard for music data and is not a suitable format for video content.