Transfer Syntax

The encoding rules for a dataset — byte order, VR style, and pixel compression.

The Transfer Syntax UID records how a dataset’s bytes are encoded: explicit vs implicit VR, little- vs big-endian, and whether the pixel data is uncompressed or carries a codec (JPEG, JPEG 2000, RLE). Converting transfer syntax — e.g. decompressing to Explicit VR Little Endian — is often needed before another tool or PACS will accept the file.