An encoder is a device used to encode a signal (such as a bitstream) or data into a form that is acceptable for transmission or storage. This is usually done by means of a programmed algorithm, especially if any part is digital, while most analogue encoding is done with circuitry. A Device can be taken to mean: an electrical device designed to carry power, but not use it. ... For other senses of the word code, see code (disambiguation). ... Signaling, or signal, may mean: Look up signal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A bitstream or bit stream is a time series of bits. ... Data is the plural of datum. ... In communications, transmission is the act of transmitting electrical messages (and the associated phenonomena of radiant energy that pass through media). ... Storage is the at least semi-permanent holding of an amount of something. ... Flowcharts are often used to represent algorithms. ... A digital system is one that uses binary numbers (a system of numeric 0s and 1s) for input, processing, transmission, storage, or display, rather than a continuous spectrum of values (an analog system) or non-numeric symbols such as letters or icons. ... An analog or analogue signal is any continuously variable signal. ... There are many kinds of circuit An electric circuit interconnects electrical elements or electronic elements together usually to perform some useful function. ...

See also endec. A decoder is a device which does the reverse of an encoder, undoing the encoding so that the original information can be retrieved. ...

An encoder is also a sensor or transducer for converting rotary motion or position to a series of electronic pulses. --from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (FOLDOC) is an on-line, searchable encyclopedic dictionary of computing subjects. ...

it encodes