Which two statements explain reasons to use a computer program to encode digital data

In this article, we will go through the concept of Encoding and Decoding the message in Communication Process in Distributed Systems in detail.

Encoding and Decoding in Communication Process: 

Encoding refers to “Codes that are used to convert a body of information from one system to another.” The secret meaning of a code is represented by a set of characters, symbols, or signs. Coding, according to John Fiske, “Includes both signs and rules that govern how and when these signals are used, as well as how they might be combined to construct more sophisticated messages.”  The following diagram clearly illustrates the effective communication process.

Which two statements explain reasons to use a computer program to encode digital data

The encoder or source gives individuals structure to the message, idea, or information in the aforementioned process, i.e. proper encoding of the message in the mind of the individual, and then sends it to the destination or receiver. The receiver then interprets the message based on his prior experience. Therefore, no communication is possible without the source. As a result, it is the most crucial factor. However, it must be very straightforward and clear so that the receiver may grasp the receiver’s statements.

The communication process has been observed to be continuous. Because one encodes the message and the other decodes it, there is no end to it.

Decoding refers to the process in which the decoder decodes or interprets a message that has been encoded by a source using his experiences and intellect.  The message has been kept simple and basic.  As a result, the decoder will be able to quickly and easily decode the received message and send it back to the source. In other words, we can say that the communication process will be understandable, as the receiver will readily comprehend the simple and clear message, and will decode the message to the source using all of his fine sense. Decoding is the technical term for the receiver or destination.

The message must be clear, factual, and meaningful, and it must be crafted in such a way that listeners, readers, and viewers do not misunderstand the meaning and goal.

Why Encoding and Decoding in Communication Process is required?

The data in a message should be useful to the receiving process. While transmitting data from the sending process’s address space to the receiving process’s address space the program objects structure should be maintained. But this is not the possibility in the case of a heterogeneous system, as the sending and receiving processes are carried out on machines having different architectures. It is also a challenging situation in the homogeneous systems as well due to the following reasons:

  • An absolute pointer value loses its meaning when transferring from one process address space to another. Hence, the software objects which use the value of absolute pointer cannot be transferred in their original form and will require representation in some other way.
  • The amount of storage take up varies with different program objects. To be meaningful, a message should typically contain a variety of program objects, such as variable-length character strings, long numbers, small integers, and so on. In this instance, the receiver must be able to determine which program object is stored wherein the message buffer and also determine space utilization by each program object for the message to be relevant to the receiver.

Due to these problems Encoding and Decoding in Communication Process are carried out. Message buffers are used to store program objects after they have been transformed to a stream format appropriate for transmission. Encoding of message data is the name for this conversion procedure that takes place on the sender’s side. The received message on the receiver side must be converted back to the original program objects from the stream form before it can be further used.  Hence, Decoding refers to reconstructing program objects from message data by the receiver.

Source code is the fundamental component of a computer program that is created by a programmer, often written in the form of functions, descriptions, definitions, calls, methods and other operational statements. It is designed to be human-readable and formatted in a way that developers and other users can understand.

As an example, when a programmer types a sequence of C programming language statements into Windows Notepad and saves the sequence as a text file, the text file now contains source code.

Source code and object code are sometimes referred to as the before and after versions of a compiled computer program. However, source code and object code do not apply to script (noncompiled or interpreted) program languages, like JavaScript, since there is only one form of the code.

Programmers can use a text editor, a visual programming tool or an integrated development environment (IDE) such as a software development kit (SDK) to create source code. In large program development environments, there are often management systems that help programmers separate and keep track of different states and levels of source code files.

Licensing of source code

Source code can be proprietary or open, and licensing agreements often reflect this distinction.

When a user installs a software suite like Microsoft Office, for example, the source code is proprietary. Microsoft only gives the customer access to the software's compiled executables and the associated library files that various executable files require to call program functions.

By comparison, when a user installs Apache OpenOffice, its open source software code can be downloaded and modified.

Typically, proprietary software vendors like Microsoft don't share source code with customers for two reasons: to protect intellectual property and to prevent the customer from making changes to source code in a way that might break the program or make it more vulnerable to attack. Proprietary software licenses often prohibit any attempt to discover or modify the source code.

Open source software, on the other hand, is purposely designed with the idea that source code should be made available since collaborative effort of developers working to enhance the software can help make it more robust and secure. Users can freely take open source code under public licenses, such as the GNU General Public License.

Purposes of source code

Beyond providing the foundation for software creation, source code has other important purposes. For example, skilled users who have access to source code can more easily customize software installations.

Meanwhile, other developers can use source code to create similar programs for other operating platforms -- a task that would be trickier without the coding instructions.

Access to source code also allows programmers to contribute to their community, either through sharing code for learning purposes or by recycling portions of it for other applications.

Organization of source code

Many different programs exist to create source code. Following is an example of the source code for a Hello World program in C language:

/* Hello World program */
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("Hello World");
}

A person with no background in programming can read the C programming source code above and understand that the goal of the program is to print the words "Hello World." However, in order to carry out the instructions, this source code must first be translated into a machine language that the computer's processor can understand; which is the job of a special interpreter program called a compiler. In this case, a C compiler is used.

After programmers compile source code, the file that contains the resulting output is referred to as object code.

Object code consists mainly of the numbers one and zero, or binary code, and cannot be easily read or understood by humans. Object code can then be linked to create an executable file that runs to perform the specific program functions.

Source code management systems can help programmers better collaborate on source code development -- like preventing one coder from inadvertently overwriting the work of another.

History of source code

Determining the historical start of source code is a subjective and elusive exercise. The first software was written in binary code in the 1940s. So, depending on one's viewpoint, such programs may be the initial samples of source code.

One of the earliest examples of source code as we recognize it today was written by Tom Kilburn, an early pioneer in computer science. Kilburn created the first successful digital program held electronically in a computer's memory in 1948. The software solved a mathematical equation.

Which two statements explain reasons to use a computer program to encode digital data
Tom Kilburn's highest factor routine

In the 1950s and '60s, source code was often provided for free with software by the companies that created the programs. As growing computer companies expanded software's use, source code became more prolific and sought after. Computing magazines prior to the internet age would often print source code in their pages, with readers needing to retype the code character for character for their own use. Later, floppy disks decreased the price for electronically sharing source code, and then the internet further removed these obstacles.

What are 2 reasons digital storage of data is more secure than analog storage?

What are two reasons digital storage of data is more secure than analog storage? Digital data can be encoded by a computer program. Digital data can be protected by a fingerprint or facial ID. Access to digital data requires a stronger password.

What is a encoding in computer programming?

In computers, encoding is the process of putting a sequence of characters (letters, numbers, punctuation, and certain symbols) into a specialized format for efficient transmission or storage. Decoding is the opposite process -- the conversion of an encoded format back into the original sequence of characters.

What is encoding in data communication?

Encoding is the process of converting data into a format required for a number of information processing needs, including: Program compiling and execution. Data transmission, storage and compression/decompression. Application data processing, such as file conversion.

Which is a disadvantage of stored digital data?

They can also be slow to use, especially as more and more data is stored within them. The remote nature of the connection can be stressed by large amounts of data. Though companies providing these types of services do their best to protect your data, an Internet-based system is not completely secure.