Data Encoding Digital computer data consists of sequences of zeros and ones. A data encoding standard states how data values such as numbers, text strings, and images should be represented as sequences of zeros and ones, and how such a sequence should be parsed to create data values; for example, ISO®/IEC® 10646:2020: Information Technology – Universal Coded Character Set (UCS) (see References) states how text characters are represented as sequences of zeros and ones in various formats, including UTF-8. A list of media types (formerly known as Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) types) that includes the data decoding standards in common use is maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).1 These standards are not listed here. The reader should consult the IANA media type registries. Some data encoding standards also define content display or data structure. The media type standards listed by IANA include content display standards and data structure standards as well as data encoding standards.