Gzip is a compression algorithm used to reduce the size of files transferred between a web server and a user’s browser. It primarily compresses HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and XML files, significantly speeding up page load times and optimizing bandwidth usage.
Developed in 1992 by Jean-Loup Gailly and Mark Adler, Gzip is now a web optimization standard, supported by all modern servers and browsers.
How Gzip Works and Key Features
Gzip works by compressing text files before they are sent from the server. The browser automatically decompresses them, requiring no user intervention.
Key Features:
- Lossless Compression
- Gzip reduces file size without altering the content, ensuring data integrity.
- Based on the DEFLATE Algorithm
- Uses LZ77 (duplicate compression) and Huffman encoding for efficient text compression.
- On-the-Fly Server Compression
- Compressed files are not stored permanently but generated in real-time.
- Supported by All Servers & Browsers
- Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed, IIS, and Cloudflare support Gzip.
- High Compression Rates
- Can reduce HTML, CSS, and JavaScript file sizes by 60% to 90%, drastically improving load times.
Advantages of Gzip
- Faster Website Loading
- Reduced Bandwidth Usage
- Improved SEO Ranking
- Universal Browser Compatibility
- Better Conversion Rates
Disadvantages of Gzip
- Ineffective for Images/Videos
- Increases Server CPU Load
- Not Supported by Very Old Browsers
- Brotli Offers Better Compression
- Requires Server Configuration
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip