What does the term "compression" refer to in SAP HANA?

In SAP HANA, "compression" specifically pertains to techniques utilized to minimize the physical storage size of data in memory. This is essential for efficient data management and optimization of performance. Given that HANA operates primarily in-memory, effective compression techniques enable the database to store more data in memory, leading to enhanced speed and improved query performance.

SAP HANA employs various compression algorithms that ensure data is stored in a compact format, allowing for quicker access and reducing the overall memory footprint. This optimization is crucial for handling large volumes of data, as it directly impacts the system's ability to process and analyze that data efficiently.

The other options describe different aspects of database functionality but do not accurately define compression. For example, increasing data size would not support performance goals and partitioning tables involves distributing data rather than reducing storage size. Similarly, limiting user access pertains more to security measures and data governance.