Information And Data : Storing and Coding

Converting information into data that a computer can process and store is known as coding information. Here are some examples of how information can be encoded as data :

Coding reduces the amount of data storage space required, can speed up the process of typing the information in and makes it easier to validate (check) data. For coding to work properly everyone who uses an information system needs to know what the correct codes are.

In fact most computers are digital devices and can only store the numbers 0 and 1 in their memories. Letters and other numbers must be encoded as sequences of 0s and 1s (called binary) before they can be stored. This encoding is done automatically by the computer.

Decimal numbers are represented in binary by sequences of 0s and 1s :

Letters and symbols are stored in binary using a standard coding system such as ASCII. Each letter is represented by a unique pattern of 0s and 1s :

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004