Question

___ files contain information formatted as ASCII text.

Short answer

Answer: ASCII text is a character encoding standard representing text, including letters, numbers, and symbols, in digital devices such as computers and phones. Each character in the ASCII set is represented by a unique number between 0 and 127, which can be stored in a file and then converted back into the corresponding character by any device that follows the ASCII standard. ASCII text files can be read using text editors, such as Notepad or TextEdit, which interpret the numbers as ASCII characters to display the text. This format is commonly used to exchange information between different software applications and systems.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding ASCII Text

ASCII, or the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a character encoding standard. It represents text (including letters, numbers, and symbols) in digital devices such as computers, phones, and other electronic devices. Each character in the ASCII set is represented by a unique number between 0 and 127. This number can be stored in a file and then converted back into its corresponding character by any device that follows the ASCII standard.

Reading an ASCII Text File

To read an ASCII text file, a computer program or text editor can be used to open the file and display the contents. The editor or program interprets the numbers stored in the file as ASCII characters and shows the text on the screen. Any text editor, such as Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on macOS, can be used to open and read ASCII text files.

Interpreting the Information

The information in an ASCII text file is usually organized in a human-readable format, such as paragraphs of text or data arranged in columns and rows. When the file is opened using a text editor, the text and structure should be easily readable and accessible. The interpretation of the information will depend on the purpose and scope of the file. For example, it could be a simple text document or a file containing numerical data for further analysis.

Working with ASCII Text Files

ASCII text files are a widely used format to exchange information between different software applications and systems. These files can be read by almost any program and are a simple way to store and transfer text data. When working with an ASCII text file, it is essential to ensure that the file is correctly formatted and readable by the applications intended to use it, maintain the integrity of the text, and effectively communicate the information contained within the file.