For most of a cells life, chromosomes exist in a loose noodle like structure. Why do they become more compact?

For most of the life the chromosomes exists in a loose noodle like structure. They become compact to fit into a very small space.

Explanation: The chromosomes consists of a very long DNA that is linear. The liner DNA also has many proteins associated with it which is called as histone proteins.

These proteins fold and gets packed into a compact form from loose noodle or thread like structure.

This is necessary to get into a compact structure because being in linear form would require much space which is not possible. So as to manage the space and many processes like replication, repair and gene expression it is necessary for the chromosomes to get compact.