All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

What is the size of each ASCII character in bits?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2024 (Tier-I) Previous Year Paper (17-Sep-2024) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is

8 bits

Each ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) character is represented using 7 bits.

However, in most modern computer systems, ASCII characters are typically stored in 8-bit bytes (1 byte), where the extra 8th bit is often used for parity (error checking) or simply left as 0 in standard ASCII.

Breakdown:

  • Standard ASCII: Uses 7 bits, allowing 128 unique characters (0 to 127).
  • Extended ASCII: Uses 8 bits, allowing 256 characters (0 to 255), commonly used in different character encoding schemes like ISO-8859-1.

Thus, while the official ASCII standard only requires 7 bits per character, it is generally stored using 8 bits (1 byte) per character in most computing systems.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Which of the following scenarios correctly illustrates the interdependence of system software and application software?

  2. In the following list of devices, which device is used in datalink layer?

  3. In computer processing, __________ selects processes from the pool and loads them into memory for execution.

  4. Which is not an external storage device?

  5. The network is overloaded with enormous data sent by many computers within the network. The inability of the network to deliver the data is termed as __________ .

  6. Which file extension is most commonly used for executable installation files on a Windows system?

  7. What is the purpose of enabling passwords on a PC?

  8. Which of the following actions can typically be performed in the Outbox?

  9. How can you exit a slide show and return to editing mode in MS PowerPoint?

  10. What are the correct steps for creating a blank presentation in MS PowerPoint?


Important Questions from Fundamentals of Computer

  1. Which of the following scenarios correctly illustrates the interdependence of system software and application software?

  2. In the following list of devices, which device is used in datalink layer?

  3. In computer processing, __________ selects processes from the pool and loads them into memory for execution.

  4. Which is not an external storage device?

  5. The network is overloaded with enormous data sent by many computers within the network. The inability of the network to deliver the data is termed as __________ .

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
UPSSSC PET
October 25, 2026
SSC JE
November 02, 2026
SSC CPO
November 20, 2026
SSC CHSL
November 30, 2026
Test Series
SSC CGL img
SSC
SSC CGL (Tier I + Tier II) 2026 Mock Test Series - Latest Pattern
2503 Tests 6 Tests Free
7952 Attempts
4.2(908)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App