How does a computer convert text into binary or 0's and 1's?

Text and other data are converted to binary by using an ASCII value (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). The value can be converted into binary if you have the ASCII value. We will use the word java as an example in order to explain how it is translated to a binary that the computer can understand.

Converting the text "java" into binary

Let's break down the method for the first character, j, that is taken in the above example. When the letter h (in lowercase) is written on the keyboard, it sends a signal to the computer as an input. The ASCII standard value for j is 106, which is recognized by the computer system and may be converted to the binary value 01101010 by the computer.

After the letter j is transformed to binary, the computer may store and analyse the data as 1s (on) and 0s (off).

Tip

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When the times to store this data, each character takes 8 bits (1 byte) to store; therefore "java" would take 4 bytes (32 bits) to save as plaintext.

How does the computer convert binary back into text?

When the computer requires to transform the binary data back to a text that is understandable to human, it follows the reverse of the above shown process. For instance, with the help of using the ASCII standard conversion, a computer may transform the binary 01101010 to the decimal value 106, which it recognizes as the letter j. As a result, the letter 'j' appears on your computer's display screen.

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For more information on how and why binary is done on a computer, visit our binary page.

Why Binary Numbers are Used by Computers?

Binary numbers, strings of 0s and 1s are frequently used to control computers. But why is it the case? Why do not computers use base 10 and convert to and from binary? This page contains all the answers to these questions, through which you will understand why computers use binary numbers!

In modern times, binary numbers are used to operate the latest computers; this is a fact well-known to those who utilize these devices on a regular basis or those who are studying computer science. When someone says a bit, it means they are trying to define a binary digit contraction and something that can only hold a 0 or a 1. The bits are divided into eight groups, which are referred to as octets or bytes in computer terminology. The octets, which are normally 23 or 64 bits long, can be grouped into words. And the majority of people are aware of this. The cause for it is something that the majority of people are unaware of.

Why Do Computers Use Binary Numbers: The answer is not as clear as you may expect? Nonetheless, we will provide the best explanations that are both rational and supportive of computers' usage of binary numbers. We utilize decimal number systems in order to present numerical facts in our daily lives. Unfortunately, computers are incapable of doing so. Computers, on the other hand, represent numbers with the help of using the simplest base number system available, which is two. This is referred to as the binary number system. Computers employ voltages, yet because voltages fluctuate so often, no specific voltage is assigned to each decimal digit.

As a result, binary is considered a two-state system, which means it can only be on or off. The binary number system is frequently used by computers to ease computations and convert to binary online. If we had adopted the decimal number system for computers, we would have had over a hundred rules hooked into the computer. The binary system, on the other hand, makes computers to calculate by using only four rules. Last but not least, the binary system is used by the computers as the two-state system is well suited to the computer's optical and magnetic storage components. In order to keep the momentum rolling, we will talk about the binary system's storage capabilities next.

How do I determine the ASCII values?

You can visit our ASCII page in terms of a complete list of characters, their decimal and binary values, as well as more information about the ASCII standard.