FLAC
F
FLAC
Definition
Free Lossless Audio Codec: an open-source lossless audio compression format. It reduces file size by 50-70% without any loss of audio quality, making it popular among audiophiles.
FLAC: Lossless Audio for Audiophiles
FLAC was released in 2001 and is the most popular open-source lossless audio format. Unlike MP3 or AAC, FLAC preserves every bit of the original audio while achieving 50-70% compression. It supports up to 32-bit/192kHz audio, embedded metadata (tags), and album art. FLAC is the preferred format for music archival, high-resolution audio downloads, and streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz. It is supported by most media players, smartphones, and home audio equipment.