What are Codes?

Codes are used to transform data into a format, which is more convenient for the target application. In contrast to ciphers, encodings do not use keys.

One of the most common codes is the bar code, which can be optically scanned. Bar codes are found on nearly every packaging. Subsequently, supermarkets, for example, are able to rapidly capture the data on the bar codes at the check out counter. The more modern QR code can be recognized and decoded by every smartphone.

Bar codes and QR codes are used a lot, but the usage of the ASCII code exceeds the use of bar codes by far, even if we are not aware of this fact. Every keystroke on a keyboard is transformed into a bit string the computer is able to interpret.

On this website and the other recommended website, you have the opportunity to experiment with commonly used coding methods.