- From: <w3t-archive+esw-wiki@w3.org>
- Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:24:10 -0000
- To: w3t-archive+esw-wiki@w3.org
Dear Wiki user, You have subscribed to a wiki page or wiki category on "ESW Wiki" for change notification. The following page has been changed by DavidClarke: http://esw.w3.org/topic/geoEncoding The comment on the change is: Moved explanation of char encoding and reworded slightly ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Question: What is 'character encoding', and why should I care? ]] + == Simple Explanation of Character Encoding == + Internally, computers store characters as numeric codes. The relationship between these numbers and the characters they represent is the character encoding. + == Why does this cause problems? == + When different computer systems use different character encodings it is oftne produces an unreadable result. [[DRC I think I should have a graphic here illustrating the result e.g. A little Japanese encoded as UTF-8 but displayed as iso2022-jp]] + == Why should I care? == + If other people need to read your content, then the character encoding settings must be compatible, of the recipients can't read it. '''[[RI''' Although the question has it, i think, the right way round to grab attention, I think the explanation may be better if it started off with the problem statement - ie. why should i care? I think this should be put in very simple, graphic terms: Characters are represented in a computer using bytes. If the bytes representing character in your text are misinterpreted you get a mess, like this... There a several schemes for associating bytes with characters, and determining what characters are included in a set. Examples are... I fear the current text is too abstract and not simple enough. ]] - '''[[DRC''' Is this a simpler approach, or is it too simple? ]] + + == Background == - - == Simple Explanation of Character Encoding == - Internally, computers store characters as numeric codes. The relatinship between these codes and the characters they represent in the character encoding. - == Problem Issues == Historically, different types of computer system from different countries or manufacturers have used different character encodings. '''[[RI''' This heading should be either 'answer' or 'background' for an FAQ. Take note that that will limit the level of nesting you go to.]] Most people have received an email or other document from a foreign source, that displays as apparently random characters. This is often because the receiving program is not configured to support the same encoding '''[[RI''' same what? You haven't defined or described 'encoding' yet. (Nor do you later ;-) ]] of the original document. - Many web sites, emails programs use a range of character encodings which they cannot guarantee will be readable by other people, or on differently configured computers. + Many web sites, emails programs use a range of character encodings which they cannot guarantee will be readable by other people, or on differently configured computers. == Historical Background == '''[[RI''' Yawn. ;-) ]]
Received on Wednesday, 23 November 2005 17:30:17 UTC