Analog and Digital Signals

There are two types of signals one is called analog signals and the second type of signals is called digital signals. Analog signals are the continuous form of the wave. Whereas, the digital signals have only two possible values, the maximum value of he signals/waves or the minimum value of the signals/wave. Furthermore, we can define or understand the two types of signals in this way that the analog signals the value of the signals is always on changing form and the value of the signals is called amplitude. If we talk about the amplitude, the waves travel in the horizontal axes. While traveling on the horizontal axes the maximum value is called the maximum amplitude same way the minimum value, while traveling on horizontal axes, is called the minimum amplitude. When the signals reach at its maximum amplitude next the decline of the signals starts and the value continuously decreases until it reaches to its minimum amplitude. After that again the value of signals start to increase and increases until again it reaches to its maximum amplitude. This process from the maximum amplitude to the minimum amplitude and then again to the maximum amplitude is called a ‘Cycle’. These cycles complete in so swiftly and the number of these cycles completed in one second is called the frequency.
Whereas on the other hand, if we talk about the second type of signals, that are called the digital signals, we can only find the maximum value or the minimum value and there is no value between these two values because in digital signals the change happens suddenly, not gradually and continuously as it happens in analog form.
Now, when we talk about the data communications of computer networking, we come to know that these types, analog and digital are closely concerned with each other. As we have already discussed in our previous post “Data communication and its elements” that all the communication within the computer happens in digital type or in other words, computer only understands the digital signals where as telephone lines required as source of communication in WAN (Wide Area Network) and the telephone lines only support analog signals, so, the conversion is required from digital to analog and from analog to digital. And for the conversion purposes, we need encoder and decoder. Modem is the example of encode and decoder devices. Modem takes the digital signals form computer, converts it into analog form and these analog signals travel through the telephone lines and on the other end, again modem takes the analog signals and convert them in digital form, so, that computer can understand these signals.
So, in the end we can summarize our post in the following words that there are two types of signals, one is called analog signals and second is called digital signals. In analog signals travel horizontally and the value of any place is called amplitude, the process of maximum amplitude to minimum and from minimum to maximum is called a cycle.
Computers only understand the digital signals and telephone lines only support analog signals. So, encoders and decoders used for conversion purposes.