A kind of compression algorithm which replaces sequences ("runs") of consecutive repeated characters (or other units of data) with a single character and the length of the run. This can either be applied to all input characters, including runs of length one, or a special character can be used to introduce a run-length encoded group. The longer and more frequent the runs are, the greater the compression that will be achieved. This technique is particularly useful for encoding black and white images where the data units would be single bit pixels. (1994-10-27)

Run-length encoding (RLE) is a form of lossless data compression in which runs of data (sequences in which the same data value occurs in many consecutive data elements) are stored as a single data value and count, rather than as the original run. This is most efficient on data that contains many such runs, for example, simple graphic images such as icons, line drawings, Conway's Game of Life, and animations.

In coding theory a variable-length code is a code which maps source symbols to a variable number of bits.

Run-length limited or RLL coding is a line coding technique that is used to send arbitrary data over a communications channel with bandwidth limits. RLL codes are defined by four main parameters: m, n, d, k.

<storage> (RLL) The most popular scheme for encoding data on magnetic disks. RLL packs up to 50% more data on a disk than MFM. IBM invented RLL encoding and used it in mainframe disk drives. During the late 1980s, PC hard disks began using RLL. Today, virtually every drive on the market uses some form of RLL. Groups of bits are mapped to specific patterns of flux. The density of flux transitions is limited by the spatial resolution of the disk and frequency response of the head and electronics. However, transitions must be close enough to allow reliable clock recovery. RLL implementations vary according to the minimum and maximum allowed numbers of transition cells between transitions. For example, the most common variant today, RLL 1,7, can have a transition in every other cell and must have at least one transition every seven cells. The exact mapping from bits to transitions is essentially arbitrary. Other schemes include GCR, FM, {Modified Frequency Modulation} (MFM). See also: PRML. http://cma.zdnet.com/book/upgraderepair/ch14/ch14.htm. (2003-08-12)

Memory has the ability to encode, store and recall information. Memories give an organism the capability to learn and adapt from previous experiences as well as build relationships.

A variable-length quantity (VLQ) is a universal code that uses an arbitrary number of binary octets (eight-bit bytes) to represent an arbitrarily large integer. A VLQ is essentially a base-128 representation of an unsigned integer with the addition of the eighth bit to mark continuation of bytes.

In bluegrass and other music, the G run (G-run), or Flatt run (presumably after Lester Flatt), is a stereotypical ending used as a basis for improvisation on the guitar. It is the most popular run in bluegrass, the second being "Shave and a Haircut".

character encoding