What is the difference between analog and digital signals?

The distinction between analog and digital signals is foundational in telecommunications and signal processing. Analog signals represent information in a continuous manner, where the values can change smoothly over a range. These signals can be visualized as waveforms that vary in amplitude and frequency, capturing information such as sound or video in its natural form.

Digital signals, on the other hand, represent information using binary values, which are discrete. This means that digital signals consist of separate and distinct values, often represented as 0s and 1s. Because digital signals are quantized, they can be easily processed, stored, and transmitted using digital methods, typically resulting in more efficient use of bandwidth and enhanced reliability in transmission.

This understanding highlights the importance of the continuous nature of analog signals versus the discrete, stepped nature of digital signals, making the distinction a critical aspect of communications technology.