Learn: Representations in Computing

Welcome!Today, we’ll explore representations in computing. This topic is all about how computers store and process different types of data, like numbers, text, images, and sound. Let’s dive in step by step!

What is Binary Representation?Computers use binary (base-2) to represent all data. Binary uses two digits: 0 and 1. These represent the ‘on’ and ‘off’ states of electronic switches inside the computer.

Data UnitsData is measured in units like bit (a single binary digit) and byte (8 bits). Larger units include kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), and petabytes (PB). Each unit is 1,000 times larger than the previous one.

Characters and ASCIIText is stored using character sets. Each character is assigned a unique binary code. The ASCII character set uses 8 bits per character, which allows for 256 possible characters.

Images and PixelsImages are stored as grids of pixels (small picture elements). Each pixel has a colour, represented by a binary code. The colour depth determines how many bits are used per pixel. Higher colour depth means more possible colours.

Sound RepresentationSound is stored by sampling. The sample rate is how often sound is measured, and the bit depth is how detailed each measurement is. Higher sample rates and bit depths result in better sound quality but larger file sizes.

Review Time!Great work! You've learned how computers represent text, images, and sound. Now, let’s test your understanding with a few final questions.