Introduction to Computer Data Representation

Introduction to Computer Data Representation introduces readers to the representation of data within computers. Starting from basic principles of number representation in computers, the book covers the representation of both integer and floating point numbers, and characters or text. It comprehensively explains the main techniques of computer arithmetic and logical manipulation. The book also features chapters covering the less usual topics of basic checksums and ‘universal’ or variable length representations for integers, with additional coverage of Gray Codes, BCD codes and logarithmic representations. The description of character coding includes information on both MIME and Unicode formats.

Introduction to Computer Data Representation also includes historical aspects of data representation, explaining some of the steps that developers took (and the mistakes they made) that led to the present, well-defined and accepted standards of data representation techniques. The book serves as a primer for advanced computer science graduates and a handy reference for anyone wanting to learn about numbers and data representation in computers.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Numbers And Computers
Chapter 2. Binary And Other Representations
Chapter 3. Signed, And Other, Representations
Chapter 4. Basic Arithmetic And Logic
Chapter 5. Computer Arithmetic
Chapter 6. Floating-Point Representations
Chapter 7. Logarithmic Representations
Chapter 8. Characters And Text
Chapter 9. Universal (Variable Length) Codes
Chapter 10. Checksums And Error Control
Chapter 11. Miscellaneous Topics
Chapter 12. Concluding Comments