zstd, short for Zstandard, is a fast lossless compression algorithm, targeting
real-time compression scenarios at zlib-level and better compression ratios.
The zstd compression library provides in-memory compression and decompression
functions.
The library supports regular compression levels from 1 up to ZSTD_maxCLevel(),
which is currently 22. Levels >= 20, labeled --ultra, should be used with
caution, as they require more memory. The library also offers negative
compression levels, which extend the range of speed vs. ratio preferences.
The lower the level, the faster the speed (at the cost of compression).
Compression can be done in:
- a single step (described as Simple API)
- a single step, reusing a context (described as Explicit context)
- unbounded multiple steps (described as Streaming compression)
The compression ratio achievable on small data can be highly improved using
a dictionary. Dictionary compression can be performed in:
- a single step (described as Simple dictionary API)
- a single step, reusing a dictionary (described as Bulk-processing
dictionary API)
Advanced experimental functions can be accessed using
#define ZSTD_STATIC_LINKING_ONLY before including zstd.h.
Advanced experimental APIs should never be used with a dynamically-linked
library. They are not "stable"; their definitions or signatures may change in
the future. Only static linking is allowed.
Introduction
zstd, short for Zstandard, is a fast lossless compression algorithm, targeting real-time compression scenarios at zlib-level and better compression ratios. The zstd compression library provides in-memory compression and decompression functions.
The library supports regular compression levels from 1 up to ZSTD_maxCLevel(), which is currently 22. Levels >= 20, labeled --ultra, should be used with caution, as they require more memory. The library also offers negative compression levels, which extend the range of speed vs. ratio preferences. The lower the level, the faster the speed (at the cost of compression).
Compression can be done in: - a single step (described as Simple API) - a single step, reusing a context (described as Explicit context) - unbounded multiple steps (described as Streaming compression)
The compression ratio achievable on small data can be highly improved using a dictionary. Dictionary compression can be performed in: - a single step (described as Simple dictionary API) - a single step, reusing a dictionary (described as Bulk-processing dictionary API)
Advanced experimental functions can be accessed using #define ZSTD_STATIC_LINKING_ONLY before including zstd.h.
Advanced experimental APIs should never be used with a dynamically-linked library. They are not "stable"; their definitions or signatures may change in the future. Only static linking is allowed.