What does "minification" refer to in web development?

Minification refers specifically to the process of reducing file size by removing unnecessary characters from code without affecting its functionality. This is a common practice in web development, particularly for CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files. During minification, whitespace characters, comments, and other non-essential elements are eliminated, resulting in a more compact version of the code. This compact version loads faster, improves download speeds, and enhances overall website performance.

In contrast to image optimization, which focuses on reducing the size of image files for quicker loading times, minification targets code specifically. Merging multiple files into one is a different practice often referred to as bundling, which may also enhance performance but does not directly equate to the definition of minification. Transforming code into a different programming language involves a process called transpilation or compilation, which also differs significantly from the minification process.