Learn decoding with online courses and programs

Decoding is an essential step in computer programming. Without decoding it wouldn’t be possible to process information that is communicated digitally. Learn decoding with online courses from edX.

What is decoding?

In its simplest form, decoding is a process we do every day, mostly without thinking about it. When you read a text or answer a phone call, your brain receives the message and decodes its meaning. This happens with verbal and written communication, and also when you process gestures or interpret visual representations like photographs or paintings.

All forms of communication rely on decoding and encoding, including computing and data programming. To transmit or store information digitally, data must exist in a format that computers can understand. Encoding, the opposite of decoding, involves assembling a sequence of characters (letters, numbers, punctuation, and specific symbols) into a binary-based, data-encoding format — like American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), Unicode, or Base64 — that can be efficiently stored or transmitted between computers. Decoding is how that transmitted message is then converted back to its original form.^{Footnote 1}

We can communicate over the internet thanks to encoding and decoding. Different programming languages, such as Java, Python, C++, and Swift, rely on these processes to transfer messages or object data through networks in a way that’s standardized and allows for interoperability between diverse programming languages and platforms.^{Footnote 2}

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Decoding course curriculum

Introductory computer science classes teach encoding and decoding fundamentals, while more advanced computer science courses address these skills in greater depth. Information technology courses and programming courses, such as those that teach Java or Python, also cover decoding principles.

Enrolling in a decoding class or computer science course may introduce you to topics like:^{Footnote 3}

The nature of computers and code
How the internet works
How software programs and digital images function
Necessary jargon like megabytes and gigabytes
Loops and logic in computer code
Internet security fundamentals
Big ideas like abstraction, logic, and bugs

Once you’ve absorbed the basics of decoding and other computer science fundamentals, you might want to explore a specific area of study further, like how to program in Java or another programming language. There are a number of accessible computer science and programming courses where you can continue developing your knowledge and skills.

Explore decoding jobs

Modern society relies heavily on jobs that involve decoding skills. Pursuing a computer science education can help pave the way to a rewarding career path in our increasingly digital world.

Jobs that require decoding and computer science-related skills like mathematics, programming, and knowledge of data structures and algorithms include:^{Footnote 4}

Artificial intelligence and machine learning engineer
Business analyst
Cloud computing engineer
Computer systems analyst
Data scientist
Database administrator
DevOps engineer
Full-stack developer
Information security analyst
Information technology specialist
Mobile developer
Network architect
Project manager
Research and development (R&D) scientist
Security engineer
Software developer
Software engineer
User interface designer
Web developer

If you are interested in pursuing one of these roles, edX offers a variety of online learning opportunities that work for all types of learners from an accelerated boot camp to a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.^{Footnote 5}

How to learn decoding online

Pursuing an online degree in computer science or programming is one way to learn decoding, and online boot camps like those in a cybersecurity boot camp and a coding boot camp can greatly improve your knowledge.

The core STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are important to know if you want to excel in decoding classes. Programming and data science rely heavily on logical reasoning and analytical thinking, which STEM classes help cultivate in learners.

While a firm grasp of STEM subjects can be beneficial in decoding courses, learners who come to decoding with a rich humanities education can benefit from an ability to place their learning in historical and cultural contexts and apply it to real-world situations. After all, if you want to engineer solutions to society’s complex problems, it’s important to understand the circumstances surrounding those problems and the society your solutions will impact.^{Footnote 6}

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Decoding FAQ

What is decoding in computer science?

Decoding in computer science is the process by which data transmitted over computer networks is converted from binary code into its original, often text-based format. Any message sent through a computer system must be encoded and then decoded. Encoding large files into smaller ones enables efficient transmission which is then converted back to its original size through decoding.

What’s the difference between encoding and decoding?

Encoding is communicating a message, while decoding is receiving and interpreting that message. Encoding and decoding are essential building blocks of computer science. To communicate words and messages across computer networks, which operate using binary numbers, programmers must translate those messages into a format that computers can recognize. Once a message has been encoded, digital devices can process, store, or transmit it. For future human operators to understand that coded message, they must decode it from its binary form into a readable version.^{Footnote 7}

How are coding and decoding done?

To code or encode a message into a form that a computer can understand, a programmer translates a text file into binary numbers using an encoding scheme such as ASCII. That coded data is then stored or transmitted over a network, ready for a computer’s decoder hardware or software to convert it into its original text format. This entire process can take place in a matter of milliseconds.^{Footnote 8}

Why learn decoding online?

As decoding relies on computer science skills and technological capabilities — and deals directly with transmitting content over the internet — it’s a subject particularly suited to online learning. Platforms like edX make it easy to enroll in decoding classes and other courses that accommodate a wide range of learner needs, backgrounds, and schedules.

Last updated January 2024