What is the Difference Between Binary and ASCII?

Binary and ASCII are two different coding systems used in computing. Here are the main differences between them:

1. Nature of the code: Binary code is a system of binary digits (0s and 1s) that represent data or instructions in computers, while ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a set of characters represented by binary numbers, making it possible to transfer text-based information from one computer to another.
2. Length of code: Binary code can have different lengths for encoding depending on the number of characters, instructions, or the encoding method, but ASCII uses only 7 digits long binary string and 8 digits long for extended ASCII.
3. String representation: Binary code can represent data in variable or constant bit lengths, while ASCII uses constant bit lengths (7 bits for a standard character and 8 bits for an extended character).
4. File size: Binary STL files (used in 3D printing) contain the same information as ASCII files but are compressed, making them smaller in size.
5. Readability: ASCII files are human-readable, while binary files are not.

In summary, binary code is a more general method of encoding characters or instructions, while ASCII is a specific coding system that uses binary numbers to represent characters. ASCII is used for transferring text-based information between computers, and its codes are constant in length and human-readable.

Comparative Table: Binary vs ASCII

The main differences between Binary and ASCII are as follows:

In summary, Binary code is a general method for encoding characters or instructions using binary digits (0s and 1s), while ASCII is a specific encoding scheme that represents a limited set of characters using 7-bit or 8-bit binary strings.