Data compression using a combination of content independent data compression and content dependent data compression. In one aspect, a system for compressing data comprises: a processor; one or more content dependent data compression encoders; and a single data compression encoder. The processor is configured to analyze data within a data block to identify one or more parameters or attributes of the data wherein the analyzing of the data within the data block to identify the one or more parameters or attributes of the data excludes analyzing based solely on a descriptor that is indicative of the one or more parameters or attributes of the data within the data block; to perform content dependent data compression with the one or more content dependent data compression if the one or more parameters or attributes of the data are identified; and to perform data compression with the single data compression encoder, if the one or more parameters or attributes of the data are not identified.