A data compressing method comprises first step in which a data is orthogonally transformed so that an orthogonal transform data is generated. A processing step executed subsequent to the first step is divided into a processing step for an alternate-current component of the orthogonal transform data and a processing step for a direct-current component of the orthogonal transform data. The processing step for the direct-current component includes a second step in which an inverse transform equivalent to a decoding process of the orthogonal transform data is executed on the orthogonal transform data.