Encoding on the Internet
1: Computers Process Numbers
Numerical Data
All data in computers are ultimately stored as numbers (actually binary numbers). However, operating systems and programs convert these numbers to a forms which can be interpreted by humans. For instance:
- Graphics – colors are assigned numbers
- Audio – frequencies and volume factors are assigned numbers
- Text – characters are assigned numbers
Software converts numbers to a form understandable by humans
Text Encoding
The convention which assigns characters (letters, numbers, punctuation, blank space) a number. One of the first encoding schemes was ASCII.
- Keyboard and low-level system software converts the numbers to
text - Fonts match the numbers to the characters displayed on the screen and in print
- Two Computers must have access to the same encoding and font settings
in order to exchange files