🔤 Character Codes in Communication

Character codes convert symbols into binary so they can be transmitted or stored.

Common Character Encodings:

  • ASCII (7-bit): Standard for English text.
  • Extended ASCII (8-bit): Includes extra symbols.
  • Unicode (UTF-8): Multi-language, variable-length encoding.

Character codes are foundational — they are how meaning is encoded into binary.

⚠️ Error Detection Techniques

Communication is susceptible to noise. Error detection techniques help identify if data has been corrupted during transmission.

🧩 Common Redundancy Checking Methods:

  • VRC (Vertical Redundancy Check):

    • Also called parity check.
    • Adds a parity bit (even/odd).
    • Can detect 1-bit errors only.

  • LRC (Longitudinal Redundancy Check):

    • Parity calculated across a block of data.
    • Useful for burst error detection.

  • Checksum:

    • Sum of data segments is sent.
    • Receiver verifies sum.
    • Simple, but not very reliable for complex errors.

  • CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check):

    • Uses polynomial division.
    • High accuracy.
    • Used in Ethernet, 5G, and storage devices.

🧠 Deep Insight

Error detection is not about perfection — it’s about trust with verification. Just like human communication, we design systems to expect noise and still make sense of the message.

“In the digital world, integrity isn’t an ideal — it’s a calculated redundancy.”

🧭 Where It’s Used

  • VRC/LRC: Legacy systems and simple serial protocols
  • Checksum: TCP/UDP
  • CRC: Ethernet, disks, Wi-Fi

🔗 Links