"Sparse" disk images?

[DeadSirius]

The Help topics for Disk Utility are not all too helpful regarding sparse disk images, as opposed to read/write images. What exactly is a sparse image?

 

[TBi]

A sparse disk image is one that only takes up as much space as needed by the contents. As opposed to a regular one which will always take up as much space as you specify.

 

[noaccess]

Don't mean to barge in, after all I'm not the OP, but why do you still have to set a sparse disk image size?

 

[TBi]

Well presumably that's the max size the image can be.

I just guessed that though, seeing as it makes sense... however you can go google it if you want