What is the process of converting continuous analog signals into a finite set of digital values called?

What is the process of converting continuous analog signals into a finite set of digital values called?

• A. Sampling
• B. Quantization
• C. Filtering
• D. Encoding

Answer: (B)

Quantization is the step that maps a continuous range of input amplitudes to a fixed, finite set of levels. In analog-to-digital conversion, you first sample the signal in time, and then quantize each sample by assigning it to the nearest level in a predefined finite set. This is what creates digital values with limited resolution—the number of levels is determined by the bit depth (more bits mean more levels and finer detail). So the process described—turning a continuous signal into a finite set of digital values—fits quantization best. Sampling handles when you take measurements; filtering shapes which frequencies pass through; encoding would translate those quantized levels into binary digits, but the move from a continuous amplitude to a finite set of levels is the job of quantization.

Quantization is the step that maps a continuous range of input amplitudes to a fixed, finite set of levels. In analog-to-digital conversion, you first sample the signal in time, and then quantize each sample by assigning it to the nearest level in a predefined finite set. This is what creates digital values with limited resolution—the number of levels is determined by the bit depth (more bits mean more levels and finer detail).

So the process described—turning a continuous signal into a finite set of digital values—fits quantization best. Sampling handles when you take measurements; filtering shapes which frequencies pass through; encoding would translate those quantized levels into binary digits, but the move from a continuous amplitude to a finite set of levels is the job of quantization.