How does a compressor increase the pressure of air in a jet engine?

In a jet engine, the compressor increases air pressure by using rows of rotating and stationary blades to interact with the airflow.12

In modern engines, this is primarily achieved through an axial-flow compressor, which functions as the reverse of a reaction turbine. The compressor consists of closely spaced, highly curved airfoil-shaped blades that exert a tangential force on the air. For subsonic flow, the compressor increases pressure by diffusing the flow: the blade passages are designed such that the flow area increases, which reduces the velocity of the air and converts its kinetic energy into a rise in pressure.1

Because each individual stage can only handle a relatively small pressure increase, compressors are built with multiple stages to achieve the high pressure ratios required for efficient engine operation. As the air is compressed and its volume decreases, the blades are designed to become shorter to maintain a nearly constant through-flow velocity. This process is critical because it prepares the air for the combustion chamber, where it is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate thrust.132