Computers store more than just numbers in binary. But how can binary numbers represent non$-$numbers such as letters and symbols?

As it turns out, all it requires is a bit of human cooperation. We must agree on encodings, mappings from a character to a binary number.

A simple encoding

For example, what if we wanted to store the following symbols in binary?

$$

We can invent this simple encoding:

Binary Symbol

$\backslash [\backslash$texttt$\{0\}\backslash$texttt$\{1\}\backslash ]$

$\backslash [\backslash$texttt$\{10\}\backslash ]$

$\backslash [\backslash$texttt$\{11\}\backslash ]$

Let's call it the HPE encoding. It helps for encodings to have names, so that programmers know they're using the same encoding.

If a computer program needs to store the $$ symbol in computer memory, it can store

$\backslash [\backslash$texttt$\{10\}\backslash ]$ instead. When the program needs to display

$\backslash [\backslash$texttt$\{10\}\backslash ]$ to the user, it can remember the HPE encoding and display $$ instead.

Computer programs and files often need to store multiple characters, which they can do by stringing each character's encoding together.

A program could write a file called $"$msg$.$hpe" with this data:

$\backslash [\backslash$texttt$\{0\}\backslash$texttt$\{10111111010\}\backslash ]$

A program on another computer that understands the HPE encoding can then open $"$msg$.$hpe" and display the sequence of symbols.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What sequence would the program display?

Choose $1$ answer:

Choose $1$ answer:

$($Choice A$)$

A

$$

$($Choice B$)$

B

$$

$($Choice C$)$

C

$$

Explain

The HPE encoding only uses $2$