What can be said about digital watermarking compared to regular file alteration?

Digital watermarking is a technique used to embed information into a digital signal in a way that is generally imperceptible to users. The primary purpose of digital watermarking is to provide information about the content, such as ownership or copyright details, without significantly altering the original file's usability or quality.

The correct answer highlights that digital watermarking does not impair the file while embedding information. This means that users can still access and utilize the file as they normally would, without noticeable degradation in quality or functionality. This capability distinguishes digital watermarking from regular file alterations, which often involve more significant changes that can affect how the file operates or is perceived by users.

In comparison to other methods of file modification, digital watermarking maintains the integrity of the original content, ensuring that the embedded information is almost undetectable to the end user while still serving its purpose of conveying ownership or authenticity. This is a key characteristic that makes watermarking advantageous in numerous applications, particularly in multimedia content protection.