optimal

[hooshdar3]

Hi.

"The Huffman encoding algorithm is an optimal compression algorithm when only the frequency of individual letters are used to compress the data. (There are better algorithms that can use more structure of the file than just letter frequencies.)"

What does optimal mean here?

[Rover_KE]

Probably what the COED says it means:

optimal
▶adjective
best or most favourable.

Can you tell me what the rest of it means, hooshdar?

Rover

[hooshdar3]

Probably what the COED says it means:



Can you tell me what the rest of it means, hooshdar?

Rover

You sure know what and algorithm is, don't you?
And a compression algorithm is an algorithm use for compressing the data, making it shorter, fitting in less space.

[Raymott]

"You sure know what and algorithm is...."
"Surely you know what an algorithm is!"

I wouldn't expect an English teacher to understand the background of your question.
And a compression algorithm is an algorithm use for compressing the data, making it shorter, fitting in less space.

Huffman’s algorithm is the best one to use when the frequency of letters used is the only
factor considered. Once you begin considering other factors, Huffman's algorithm is not
optimal (it either doesn't lead to the most compression, or the computational cost of
considering the other factors makes other algorithms superior.)