# Brotli

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brotli
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a computer technology used to make files smaller so they can be sent over the internet faster. It is often used by web browsers to help websites load quickly.

For teachers: a lossless data compression algorithm that uses a combination of a modern variant of the LZ77 algorithm, Huffman coding, and 2nd order context modeling. Developed by Google, it is primarily used for HTTP compression to improve web page loading speeds.

## Examples

- The web server uses brotli to compress its files.
- By enabling brotli on their servers, the engineering team reduced the size of their JavaScript files by twenty percent compared to older methods.
- While Gzip remains a common standard for legacy systems, brotli offers a superior compression ratio for text-based assets, making it the preferred choice for modern web performance optimization.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'brotli compression' or 'brotli encoding'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.