Understanding Binary: The Foundation of Digital Data
Binary code is a system that uses two values, 0 and 1, to represent information. It is the language of computers. Each 8-digit sequence (a **byte**) often corresponds to one **ASCII** character.
Binary ASCII Visual Example (Byte-by-Byte)
H = 01001000
i = 01101001
! = 00100001
Binary Pixel Art Representation
Imagine binary code as pixels on a screen. 1 is "ON" (green), 0 is "OFF" (black).
Hexadecimal Conversion (Base-16)
Hex uses 16 symbols (0-9 and A-F). It is a shorthand for binary, where 4 bits (a **nibble**) equals one hex digit. E.g., 'H' (01001000) is **48** in Hex.
Base64 Encoding
Base64 is an encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's often used to transmit binary data over mediums that primarily handle text, like email. E.g., 'Hi' becomes **SGk=**.
PETSCII (Commodore/Retro)
PETSCII (PET Standard Code of Information Interchange) is a non-standard character set used by Commodore computers. It differs significantly from modern ASCII/UTF-8 and includes unique graphical characters.
{ Commodore 64 Style Example }
HELLO WORLD!
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