The correct choice is Codec, as it refers to a device or program specifically designed to encode and decode digital data streams or signals. In the context of audiovisual technology, a codec compresses video and audio files to reduce file size for more efficient storage and transmission. When the compressed files are transmitted, the codec can then decompress them for playback or editing, ensuring that the quality of the original signal is retained as much as possible.
This functionality is essential in modern streaming services, video conferencing, and digital communication, where bandwidth and storage capacity can be limited. Codecs enable the efficient use of network resources while maintaining the quality of the media being transmitted.
Other terms, such as decoder, modem, and transcoder, refer to different technologies or functions: a decoder typically converts encoded signals to a human-readable form but does not compress; a modem primarily modulates and demodulates signals for communication over telephone lines; and a transcoder converts media files from one format to another without necessarily focusing on the compression and decompression processes in the way that codecs do.