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Difference between Analog signal and Digital signal

December 16, 2022

The primary difference between analog signal and digital signals is that analog signals are continuous waveforms that vary continuously over time. A voltage level represents an analog signal. Digital signals are discrete waveforms that have only two possible values at any given moment. A digital signal is represented by a series of ones and zeros.

image showing the analog signal vs digital signal

Digital signals are often easier to transmit than analog signals. Analog signals require a lot of power to transmit them, whereas digital signals use less power.

What is Analog Signal

Analog signals are continuous waveforms that vary continuously over time. They are also known as continuous signals because they don’t have discrete values at specific points in time. An analog computer can read analog signals.

image showing the analog signal

Analog signals are commonly found in radio waves, television broadcasts, and telephone lines.

What is Digital signal?

A digital signal is a series of ones and zeros (0s and 1s) that represent data or information. The digital signals that carry our phone calls, television programs, and computer files are called bits. Bits are also the smallest unit of data that computers store and manipulate.

image showing the digital signal

Digital signals are discrete (discrete means having distinct values). Digital signals are typically represented using binary code or hexadecimal numbers. For example, a digital signal might represent a number between 0 and 255.

Analog signal vs digital signal

The main differences between an analog signal and a digital signal are given below:

Analog SignalDigital Signal
An analog signal is an electrical signal that represents a continuous quantity such as voltage, current, or temperature.Digital signals are time-separated signals which are generated using digital values (0,1).
Analog signals are generated using sine waves.Digital signals are generated using a square wave.
It is a continuous wave.It is a discrete wave.
The bandwidth of the analog signal is low.The bandwidth of the digital signal is high.
Analog signals can easily be affected by noise.Digital signals are less affected by noise.
They are more accurate.They are less accurate.
They use more power for data transmission.They use less power for data transmission.
Troubleshooting analog signals is complex.Troubleshooting digital signals are easy.
Examples: Human voice Thermometer Analog phones etc.  Examples: Computers Digital Phones Digital pens, etc.