The Mathematical Theory of Communication

The Mathematical Theory of Communication, developed by Claude Shannon, provides a framework for understanding how information is transmitted over channels, like phones or the internet. It defines concepts such as bits for measuring information, noise that can distort messages, and the capacity of a communication channel to convey information effectively. By quantifying these elements, the theory helps us understand how to encode, transmit, and decode messages efficiently while minimizing errors, making it foundational for fields like telecommunications, data compression, and error correction.