Data Representation in Computer Science
Data representation in computer science refers to the methods used to store and manipulate data in a computer system. It involves encoding data into a format that can be processed by the computer, such as binary or hexadecimal. Different data types, such as integers, floating-point numbers, characters, and strings, are represented using specific formats to facilitate efficient computation and storage.
3 Key excerpts on "Data Representation in Computer Science"
eBook - ePub- Bruce Duyshart(Author)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...These data files can then used in the composition of digital documents, which exist at the highest level of this hierarchy, as illustrated in Figure 5.2. Figure 5.2 A representation of the flow of data When data is stored in a file, it is usually structured in a manner that is tailored to specific types of information. It is also structured in a manner that allows recovery of the data with a reasonable degree of efficiency. By using these methods, data independency can be achieved, whereby information can be used and reused with a wide range of applications, operating systems, and computer types. NUMERICAL DATA In the early use of computers there was an emphasis upon their use as ‘number crunchers’. Typically, numerical data was accepted as input, and then processed according to a number of mathematical formulae. In modern computing environments, however, the user is shielded from this level of operation by the operating system and user interface. In most cases the user only needs to be concerned with the representations of numerical data in the form of graphics, texts and sounds as illustrated in Figure 5.3. Figure 5.3 Numerical input and output of data TEXT DATA In order to maintain effective and consistent results in the exchange of textual data across multiple platforms, an encoding scheme must be used to represent alphanumeric characters as a set of binary digits. As with most computer technologies, there have been a number of competing standards that have been used to achieve this aim. The four most widely used codes that have been developed for this purpose are: • ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange); • BCD (Binary Coded Decimal); • EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Interchange Code); and • UNICODE (Universal Code) In each of these schemes, a different number of bits are used to represent a defined set of possible characters...
eBook - ePubUnderstanding the Manufacturing Process
Key to Successful Cad/cam Implementation
- Joseph Harrington Jr.(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
...The functions may generate or transform data; the flows only transfer the data. The use of this convention presupposes that any movement of either materials or information can be represented by a data movement. This is true. Information may be embodied in words or numerals, representing concepts in our minds. Words are composed of letters, and letters may be represented not only by their graphic symbols but also by simpler bits, such as the dots and dashes of the Morse Code of telegraphy, or by the binary codes such as ASCII (American Standard Code for the Interchange of Information). The same applies to numbers (the mental concepts of quantity) and their symbolic forms-numerals. These too may be represented by the binary bits 0 and 1 of the ASCII or similar codes. These codes were expressly developed so that digital data processing equipment could store, retrieve, and manipulate the information. The records frequently take the form of magnetized spots on a tape or disk. Another large segment of information is represented by geometric forms — the curve of an airplane wing or the hood of an automobile, the shape of a bowling pin, or the curved sweep of the cables of a suspension bridge. Interpreting geometric forms into numerical forms was solved by the classic Greek scholars two millennia ago, and is now common technology. Mathematical curves like the catenary of the suspension bridge cable can be expressed directly in numerical form...
eBook - ePubCybercrime and Information Technology
Theory and Practice: The Computer Network Infostructure and Computer Security, Cybersecurity Laws, Internet of Things (IoT), and Mobile Devices
- Alex Alexandrou(Author)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
...The basic human–computer interaction consists of physical inputs such as keyboards, mouse, voice commands, tabs in screen (with commands run inside), to convert physical actions and conditions to binary data (Figure 1.5). FIGURE 1.5 A research to improve the human–computer interface, c1966. MAGIC (Machine for Automatic Graphics Interface to a Computer) Photograph from NIST Digital Archives. Understanding Binary Data Human languages use characters or symbols, letters and images to signify meaning. These characters are unintelligible to the wires and circuits within the computer. The computer does not act as we do; instead, it stores values as electrical charges. More specifically, when electricity flows through a wire, the electrical signal can be represented as either 1 or 0, True or False, Yes or No, or On or Off. Figure 1.6 demonstrates the binary representation of an image. FIGURE 1.6 The Binary representation of an image. The 0 or 1 is referred to as a bit (short for binary digit), and is the smallest unit of information. The more electrical connections the computer uses, the more bits are flowing through its system. While a bit can represent only a 0 or a 1, a byte, a collection of exactly 8 bits, represents a unique character. Table 1.1 and Figure 1.7 demonstrate the possible patterns or states of 0s and 1s that can be made from 1, 2, 3 and 4 bits. TABLE 1.1 Bits and Their Possible Patterns Bits Possible Patterns 1 bit (2 possible values) 0 or 1 2 bits (4 values) 00 01 10 11 3 bits (8 values) 000 001 010 011 100 101 110 111 FIGURE 1.7 Bits possible patterns. To be able to represent more than 1 and 0, True/False, Yes/No, or On/Off, we collect 8 bits to form 1 byte. With 1 byte we can represent and store the numbers between 0 and 255 (2 8). Therefore, a single byte can represent up to 256 different values. By arranging bits into bytes, any number up to 255 can be represented using only 0s and 1s...
