DCT compression

DCT compression (Discrete cosine transform) is a compression technique used for images and audio. It is used in JPEG and (in a modified form) MP3, where it provides lossy compression (meaning that some detail is lost).

The audio format known as DCT is, however, not related; that abbreviation comes from "dictation". That format can use a variety of codecs including MP3, meaning that it might or might not happen to use the compression technique with the same initials.

Links

 * Wikipedia article: Discrete cosine transform
 * Image Compression Using the Discrete Cosine Transform (NASA)
 * Image Compression and the Discrete Cosine Transform
 * Description of DCT as used in JPEG