Self-delimiting codes

Self-delimiting codes are a method of data encoding where each piece of information inherently indicates its own length, eliminating the need for external length indicators. This means that when reading the code, the system can determine where one piece ends and the next begins without extra information. These codes are essential in data compression and communication because they enable efficient, error-free extraction of individual data units from a continuous stream. Examples include prefix codes like Huffman coding, where no code is a prefix of another, allowing for straightforward and reliable decoding.