Final answer:
Zipping a file compresses it by reducing its overall size. The amount of compression depends on various factors such as the type of file, the compression algorithm used, and the content of the file itself.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you zip a file, it compresses the file by reducing its overall size. The amount of compression depends on various factors such as the type of file, the compression algorithm used, and the content of the file itself.
For example, a text file with a lot of repetitive words or phrases can be compressed significantly, resulting in a smaller zipped file. On the other hand, a file like a JPEG image or an already compressed video file may not compress much, if at all.
The degree of compression achieved by zipping a file is measured in terms of compression ratio, which is the ratio of the size of the zipped file to the size of the original file. Compression ratios can range from just a few percent to as much as 90% or more, but it really depends on the factors mentioned above.