PNG is designed to replace GIF and uses what type of compression?

• A. Portable Numeric Graph; no compression.
• B. Portable Network Graphics; lossless data compression; designed to replace GIF.
• C. Personal Network Grid; lossy compression.
• D. Private Network Graphic; both lossless and lossy.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that PNG uses lossless data compression. PNG, short for Portable Network Graphics, was created as a patent-free successor to GIF and uses the DEFLATE algorithm to compress image data without discarding any information. This means saved and re-opened PNG images retain exact pixel values and no compression artifacts appear, unlike lossy formats. The other options don’t fit because they either say there’s no compression, imply lossy compression, or claim both, none of which describe PNG. PNG’s design also aimed to handle richer color and transparency than GIF, reinforcing why lossless compression is the right match.