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Term: Encoding

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Term: Encoding

Definition:
The transformation of a signal or data into a code by means of a programmed algorithm. The code may serve any of a number of purposes such as transforming analog information into digital form, compressing information for transmission or storage, encrypting or adding redundancies to the input code, or translating from one code to another. For this Web site, the term is used broadly and in the digital realm, generally as a way to refer to the particular structure of the bitstream in a still image, an audio or video waveform, or the way in which, say, XML-marked-up text is structured.
Category:
General
See also:
Bitstream; Digitization