The Mathematical Theory of Communication (paper)

The Mathematical Theory of Communication, developed by Claude Shannon, analyzes how information is transmitted efficiently and accurately. It treats communication as a transmission of messages through a channel, considering factors like noise that can distort the message. The theory introduces concepts such as information entropy, measuring uncertainty or surprise in data, and data compression, reducing message size without losing essential content. It provides mathematical tools to optimize encoding and transmission, ensuring messages are sent reliably with minimal errors. This framework underpins modern digital communication, including internet data transfer, telephony, and data storage, by formalizing how to handle information effectively amidst potential disruptions.