Code is the power of our digital World. Coding is the process of intercommunication between human beings and Computers. The method of assigning binary codes to represent data. For encoding text, ASCII and EBCDIC are the commonly used character coding systems. ASCII codes represent text in computers, telecommunication devices, and other electronic devices.
Summary
ASCII vs EBCDIC
The main difference between ASCII and EBCDIC is that ASCII uses standard only used 7 bits per character which is compatible with modern technologies. On the other hand, EBCDIC uses 8 bits per character which is used for the IBM machine, and also used in a text file to represent numeric and alphanumeric characters.
ASCII is shorted from American Standard Code for Information Interchange, ways of representing digits, alphabets, and special symbols. The digits can be 1, 2, 3, etc. while the letters are a, b, c, d, A, B, C, etc. The symbols are characters like! $, & and #. It is used in programming, data conversions, graphic arts, and text files.
EBCDIC is shorted from Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code; it is a very popular character coding system due to mainly being used in IBM machines to represent digits alphabets and special symbols. EBCDIC uses 8 bits code which means it can represent a total of 256 alphanumeric and special characters.
Comparison Table Between ASCII and EBCDIC
| Parameter of comparison | ASCII | EBCDIC |
| The number of Bits uses | ASCII uses seven bits to represent character | EBCDIC is used eight bits to represent character |
| The number of characters represents | ASCII represents a total of 128 characters | EBCDIC represents a total of 256 characters |
| Application | ASCII is mainly used in telecommunication devices | EBCDIC is mainly used on IBM machines |
| Efficiency | ASCII is more efficient in coding system | EBCDIC is not much efficient in coding system |
| Compatibility encoding | ASCII has compatibility with the modern encoding system | EBCDIC is not compatible with the modern coding system |
What is ASCII?
ASCII is shorted from American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a standard character encoding System. It is developed by the American Standards Association committee also called the X3 committee. ASCII looks between character symbol and digital bit patterns this help devices to communicate to each other like written language. The work to develop the ASCII standard started in May 1961 and was finally published in 1963 and revised in 1967.
ASCII codes represent text in computers, telecommunication devices, and other electronic devices. It uses 7 bits per character which means it can represent 2^7 or 128 characters. Character in ASCII code includes Upper case letters A to Z lower case letters a to z, numerical values 0 to 9, and some basic special symbols.
ASCII provides an understood character set for communication that is universally accepted. It converts data into computer language. For example, changing a single bit in binary code using ASCII character codes will convert lowercase (a) into uppercase (A). Lowercase (a) in binary (0110 0001) and Uppercase (A) in binary (0100 0001).
It is used to represent data internally in A microprocessor. ASCII represents 128 characters only, and the drawback is that it cannot represent other languages such as Greek and Arabic or mathematical symbols. In ASCII, the letters are arranged in consecutive order.
What is EBCDIC?
EBCDIC is shorted from Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code, which is very popular with larger encoding systems. It is a coding system that shows letter numbers and symbols into binary language. EBCDIC is mainly used for IBM midrange and mainframe computers. This type of coding system was developed in 1963 and 1964. EBCDIC help to enhance the capability of binary coded decimal code.
It uses 8 bits per character which means it can represent 2^8 or 256 characters. Characters in EBCDIC include letters, digits, punctuation marks, and special symbols. There are some disadvantages to EBCDIC. The first problem is how to arrange the letters of the alphabet. EBCDIC groups 9 letters at a time.
It is incompatible with the modern operating system and it is less efficient as a comparison to ASCII however it is still used today. EBCDIC is an 8-bit binary code for numeric and alphanumeric characters. The first four-bit group is called ‘Zone’, which represents the category of the character, and the second group called ‘Digit’, identifies the specific characters.
Main Difference Between ASCII and EBCDIC
- The ASCII uses seven bits in the coding system to represent any character whereas EBCDIC uses eight bits in the coding system to represent any character.
- In ASCII there is a total of 128 characters to represent whereas in the EBCDIC there is a total of 256 characters to represent.
- ASCII can work with modern encoding systems like Unicode whereas EBCDIC is an old system of coding it cannot work with modern encoding systems like Unicode.
- ASCII is more efficient in the work of coding systems whereas EBCDIC is not much efficient as ASCII in the coding system.
- ASCII is normally used in the telecommunication system while EBCDIC is mainly used in IBM machines.
- ASCII manages continuous requests of characters whereas EBCDIC can manage only nine characters that are bundled simultaneously.
Conclusion
ASCII and EBCDIC are the two famous character coding systems however the main difference between the two is using of several bits. ASCII uses seven bits per character and EBCDIC uses eight bits per character. The efficacy of these coding systems is also varying ASCII is more efficient than EBCDIC on the other hand when we look at the handling, ASCII comes first in number than EBCDIC and also EBCDIC is difficult to implement.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange and Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code are two encoding standards that help to handle text in the computer. However, ASCII can work with modern encoding like Unicode but EBCDIC cannot work with the latest encoding system but both can handle the process on the computer and make it easier for users to access the technologies as per their need.