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Data representation; analog vs digital system

Short answer

Data representation is how information is expressed for processing and transmission. Data can be text (ASCII, Unicode), numbers (binary), images (pixel encoding), audio (PCM sampling), or video (compressed frames); it may be analog (continuous) or digital (discrete).

Define data representation. How can data be represented?

Data representation is the way information (text, numbers, images, audio, video) is expressed in a form that a computer or communication system can store, process and transmit.

How data can be represented

  • Text: using codes such as ASCII (7/8 bit), EBCDIC or Unicode, each character mapped to a bit pattern. Example: 'A' = 01000001.
  • Numbers: converted directly to binary (including 2's complement, floating point).
  • Images: divided into pixels, each pixel coded in bits (1 bit for black/white, 8 bits for grey, 24 bits for RGB colour).
  • Audio: continuous sound sampled, quantized and coded (PCM).
  • Video: a sequence of images (frames) combined with audio, usually compressed.

Data may be analog (continuous values, e.g. voice) or digital (discrete values, e.g. text). Both can be sent as analog or digital signals.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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