A codepage is a key that describes each character in a character set. It can also refer to the programming page of a web page, file, or program. Code pages are organized into tables with different sizes and are used for different languages and alphabets. The definition of code page is changing to refer to any type of programming. Code pages often appear in error messages and web browsers as blocks of neutral background with lines of random text.
The true definition of a codepage is a key that describes each character available in a specific character set. This technical definition is slowly being replaced by a non-technical definition. In this case, a code page is the programming page that appears when examining the inner workings of a web page, computer file, or program. The original definition has been in use for decades, but the new usage is gaining traction as more and more non-technical computer users enter the scene.
In the original definition, a code page is almost like the key to a secret code. It will have a list of numeric values that correspond to a specific character in a non-machine language. For example, ‘0040’ can match the character ‘@.’ This allows a computer to use numbers and humans to use words, but both have access to the same information.
A code page is typically organized into a table with a specific number of columns and rows. A hexadecimal or 16-bit code page will have 16 columns and 16 rows for a total of 256 total spaces. Other common sizes are 8×8 or 8-bit and the common 8-bit variation of 7×7. The larger the table, the more characters the set can have, and the more complex the overall encoding can be.
There are many different sets of codes in common use today. The most common codes are Unicode and the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), but each language has its own version of the code for use with each specific alphabet. Some languages, like Finnish or Japanese, have extremely complex sets to explain their language isolates. Additionally, major computer hardware companies, such as IBM®, or operating system companies, such as Microsoft®, use their own proprietary code pages. These companies also have to maintain a different page for each language.
The most recent definition is based on the common use of the word code. In this case, code refers to any type of programming regardless of its origin, use or language. It is equally correct to use code to describe computer assembly language as the inner workings of a web page. This generic code is often encountered by people with little technical knowledge while using a computer system.
This code often appears in error messages and web browsers. These pages are often blocks of neutral background, usually cream or white, with what appear to be long lines of random text. These are often called code pages as they contain the generic code on one page as the background.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
