Data representation
Computers use binary - the digits 0 and 1 - to store data. A binary digit, or bit, is the smallest unit of data in computing. It is represented by a 0 or a 1. Binary numbers are made up of binary digits (bits), eg the binary number 1001. The circuits in a computer's processor are made up of billions of transistors. A transistor is a tiny switch that is activated by the electronic signals it receives. The digits 1 and 0 used in binary reflect the on and off states of a transistor. Computer programs are sets of instructions. Each instruction is translated into machine code - simple binary codes that activate the CPU. Programmers write computer code and this is converted by a translator into binary instructions that the processor can execute. All software, music, documents, and any other information that is processed by a computer, is also stored using binary.[1]
To include strings, integers, characters and colours. This should include considering the space taken by data, for instance the relation between the hexadecimal representation of colours and the number of colours available.
The way in which data is represented in the computer.[edit]
To include strings, integers, characters and colours. This should include considering the space taken by data, for instance the relation between the hexadecimal representation of colours and the number of colours available[2]
Integer:
Each integer is represented in binary. Where a single number will usually be represented in one byte.
Characters: Each character is usually one byte, represented in binary.
Unicode is a standardisation of assigning values to a specific character, this is needed as there are hundreds of different characters in different languages and if done by each community there would likely be overlaps.
Strings: A concatenation of characters. Will be represented in binary, as each 8 bit character following each other. Each world will be around 16-32 bits.
Colours:
Is represented in hexadecimal number system. Will be 6 hexadecimal values 2 for each prime colour, in the order of Red, Green, Blue (RGB.) For
example the colour red will be FF 00 00. When viewed on a screen it will usually have a hash tag before the value, e.g. #FF 00 00.
A maximum of around 16.8 million different colours may be input.(16 to the power of 6 or 2 to the power of 24.)
This helpful material is used with gratitude form a computer science wiki under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License[3]
Why is data stored in binary[edit]
Click here for a link to learn about storing data
Do you understand this topic?[edit]
- What is ascii?
Do you have an advanced understanding about this topic?[edit]
- convert number to ASCII and vice-versa
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zwsbwmn/revision/1
- ↑ IBO Computer Science Guide, First exams 2014
- ↑ https://compsci2014.wikispaces.com/2.1.10+Outline+the+way+in+which+data+is+represented+in+the+computer