# OCR A Level Computer Science H446 – Lossy & Lossless Compression Interactive Simulator + Worksheet

Help students understand how data compression works using this interactive Lossy and Lossless Compression Simulator.

Created to support OCR A Level Computer Science H446 – Topic 1.3.1: Compression, Encryption and Hashing, this resource demonstrates different approaches to reducing the representation of data.

What can students explore?

Students can experiment with Run-Length Encoding (RLE), simple dictionary-based coding and lossy quantisation.

Through practical examples and before-and-after comparisons, students can investigate how data is represented differently and develop an understanding of the distinction between lossy and lossless compression.

What’s included?

• Interactive offline HTML compression simulator
• Printable student worksheet (PDF)
• Teacher guide with suggested activities (PDF)
• Teacher answers and assessment guidance (PDF)
• Instructions and customisable licence template

Why use this resource?

Excellent for making abstract compression techniques more accessible through practical experimentation.

Suitable for teacher-led demonstrations, independent investigations, revision lessons and exam preparation.

The resource uses simplified educational models to explain compression principles.

No internet access or software installation required. Open the HTML file in a modern browser.

Independently developed teaching resource. Not endorsed by OCR.