Compression artifacts are visual distortions that occur when digital images or videos are compressed to reduce file size. This process removes some data, which can lead to loss of detail and clarity. Common types of artifacts include blurring, blockiness, and color banding, which can make the image look less sharp or introduce unwanted patterns. These artifacts are particularly noticeable in highly compressed formats like JPEG for images or MPEG for videos. While compression helps save storage space and speeds up transmission, excessive compression can significantly degrade quality, making it important to find a balance between file size and visual fidelity.