1. Data Representation
IGCSE Computer Science (0478)
  • Chapter 6: Automated & Emerging Technologies
  • Data Representation
    • Introduction
    • Why computers use binary (how binary represents data)
    • Number system
      • Introduction
      • Number Conversions
      • Addition of Binary Numbers
      • Logical binary shifts (positive 8-bit integers)
      • Two’s Complement (Signed: Positive and Negative Numbers)
      • Use of the Hexadecimal System
    • Text, Sound and Image
      • Text, Sound and Images
      • File Types
    • Data storage and File compression
      • Measurement of the Size of Computer Memories
      • Lossless and Lossy File Compression
  • Hardware
    • Computer Architecture
      • The CPU & Microprocessors
      • Von Neumann Architecture
      • Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle (FDE)
      • Characteristics of the CPU
      • CPU Instruction Sets
      • Embedded Systems
    • Input/output devices
      • Input devices
      • Output devices
      • Sensors
    • Data Storage
      • What is Primary Storage?
      • What is Secondary Storage?
      • What is Virtual Memory?
      • What is cloud storage?
    • Network hardware
      • What is a Network Interface Card(NIC)?
      • MAC Addresses & IP Addresses
      • What is a Router?
  1. Data Representation

Introduction

Computers don’t understand Hindi, English, pictures or music directly.
Inside, they only understand a simple language made of 1 and 0 — called binary.
Just like a switch can be ON (1) or OFF (0), every piece of information in a computer is stored in this form — whether it’s a WhatsApp message, a Bollywood song, or a selfie.
In this chapter you will learn:
Number systems: Decimal (Denary), Binary, and Hexadecimal
How to change numbers from one system to another
How computers store positive & negative numbers
How text, sound, and images are stored
How file sizes are measured and why we compress data
By the end, you will know the language of computers and how your phone or laptop stores everything you see and hear.
Modified at 2025-08-11 05:53:24
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