How do computers convert text to binary using Unicode?

In one line

The rule

Each character in Unicode is given a unique number called a code point. Computers store and process these numbers in binary form.

For example, the letter 'A' in Unicode is U+0041 (which is 65 in decimal).

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you want to send a message to a friend using only 0s and 1s. But your message is in Hindi or English letters! Computers solve this by giving every letter, symbol, or emoji a special number. This list of numbers is called Unicode. For example, 'A' gets 65, 'B' gets 66, 'अ' gets 2309, and so on. Then, computers change these numbers into binary, because computers only understand 0s and 1s. So, 'A' becomes 65, and 65 in binary is 1000001.

Think of it like a cricket jersey: every player has a unique number. The computer just writes the number in binary, not the name.

How it works

1. Pick a character: For example, the letter 'A'.
2. Find its Unicode code point: 'A' is 65.
3. Convert the code point to binary: 65 in binary is 1000001.
4. Store or send the binary: The computer saves or transmits 1000001.
5. Reverse for reading: To show the letter again, the computer changes the binary back to the number, then looks up which character it is.

The story behind it

Long ago, computers only understood English letters, using a system called ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). But the world has thousands of languages and symbols! So, in the 1990s, experts created Unicode. Unicode gives every character in every language a unique number. Now, computers everywhere can store and show text in Hindi, Tamil, Chinese, emojis, and more. The Unicode Consortium, a group of people and companies, keeps adding new symbols every year.

Where you see it in real life

• Sending a WhatsApp message: When you type 'नमस्ते', your phone turns each letter into Unicode numbers, then into binary, and sends it.
• Websites: When you see your name in your language on a website, the computer used Unicode and binary to store and show it.
• SMS in different languages: Text messages use Unicode to send Hindi, Bengali, or even emojis.
• Programming: When you write 'print("Hello")', the computer stores each letter as binary using Unicode.
• Digital books (e-books): The text is stored as Unicode numbers in binary form.
• Bank ATMs: When the ATM shows your name in your language, it uses Unicode and binary.

Why it matters

• Universal communication: Unicode lets computers everywhere understand all languages and symbols.
• Data storage: All text, from your school notes to government records, is stored as binary using Unicode.
• Programming: Every app, website, and device uses this method to handle text.
• Exams and jobs: Understanding binary and Unicode is key for computer science, coding, and IT jobs.

Worked example

Let's convert the letter 'B' to binary using Unicode:

Given: Character = 'B'
Step 1: Find Unicode code point for 'B' = 66
Step 2: Convert 66 to binary
66 ÷ 2 = 33 remainder 0
33 ÷ 2 = 16 remainder 1
16 ÷ 2 = 8 remainder 0
8 ÷ 2 = 4 remainder 0
4 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 0
2 ÷ 2 = 1 remainder 0
1 ÷ 2 = 0 remainder 1
Step 3: Write remainders from bottom to top: 1000010
Answer: 'B' in binary is 1000010

Common mistakes

• Thinking computers store letters directly: Computers only store numbers (in binary), not the actual letters or symbols.
• Mixing up ASCII and Unicode: ASCII only covers English letters; Unicode covers all languages and emojis.
• Forgetting to convert to binary: Some think Unicode numbers are stored as they are, but computers always use binary.
• Not reading remainders in the right order: When converting to binary, always read remainders from bottom to top.

Remember it

Every letter or symbol gets a unique number (Unicode), and computers write that number in binary.