run-length encoding

run-length encoding

[′rən ¦leŋkth in′kōd·iŋ]

(computer science)

A method of data compression that encodes strings of the same character as a single number.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

run-length encoding

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.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)