Analog vs. Digital: The Key Differences Explained
Most of us are familiar with the basics of analog vs. digital, because we think of the most common things, like clocks or watches. Analog clocks are clocks that have hands that travel around a clock face, while digital clocks display the time in easily readable format. However, the truth is slightly more complicated.
Analog and digital are actually two different signals. The key difference is how the signals actually work, as both operate on a slightly different basis to result in different outputs that are noticed by the naked eye. This means that analog and digital are both different forms of technology, leading to different displays for a variety of common consumer goods, such as watches, clocks, TVs, audio processing, sound recordings, music, and more.
Analog vs. Digital: Side by Side Comparison
| analog | digital | |
| What it is | A method of transmitting electronic informationA method of transmitting electronic information | Signal expressed as a series of 0 and 1 |
| Primary Use | Display and transmission of different devices, such as audio, watches, music, clocks, data, video, TV, and other devices. | Display and transmission of different devices, such as audio, watches, music, clocks, data, video, TV, and other devices. |
| Name | Analog | Digital |
| Conceived | ||
| Initial Release | ||
| Technical Committee | N/A | N/A |
| Influential Developers | ||
| Open format | Yes | Yes |
| Technologies influenced | Digital Signals and countless consumer goods, including the initial recording of music and sound | Consumer goods |
Analog vs. Digital: Must Know Facts
- The primary difference between analog and digital signals is the way in which the signals are transmittied. Analog signals are recorded and transmited “as they are,” while digital signals are recorded into binary format, allowing for more extrapolation and manipulation.
- Data is much easier transmittied in digital form and cannot be transmited in analog form, save for very limited transmissions. This is because of the different nature of both transmissions.
- Sound and video can be transmitted in both analog or digital formats, although digital is usually quicker, resulting in less of a delay in the transmission. Depending on the nature of the transmission – such as live sporting events – that lack of delay can be critical, and this is why individuals looking to remove delays from their transmissions often rely on digital signals.
- Unlike many other technological changes, digital has not completely replaced analog transmissions and isn’t likely to in the near future. Analog is cheaper, simpler to put together, and more than adequate for many types of technology.
Analog vs. Digital: Summary
Analog is a continuous signal that is used to transmit data in its exact form. This means that when a piece of data is recorded – like a sound or a video – that information is recorded and then displayed exactly as is. The information is displayed based on some medium for which it has been designed, such as the watch hands of a clock.
By contrast, digital is much more flexible. The binary nature in which information is stored allows for the information to be displayed in any number of ways, including on a digital display, electric pulses, or more. Digital information can also be converted to analog and then an analog device can be used to display the information.
Analog vs. Digital: Which is Better?
At this point, in terms of analog vs. digital, most people will tell you that digital signals are better. The method in which digital signals and recording can be captured and transmitted allows for higher levels of flexibility and manipulation, allowing for more advanced display. Digital signals and transmissions have become commonplace for most recordings and electronic goods. For example, computers and smartphones all rely exclusively on digital displays and do not have any analog transmissions.
This is not to say that analog has been completely eliminated in all consumer goods. Many consumer devices – albeit typically older ones – rely on analog transmissions. Furthermore, in many smaller and non-internet connected goods, such as watches, analog transmissions are still relatively commonplace within electric devices. A watch is an excellent example of this idea: Generally speaking, if a watch still uses a face and two hands, that watch will have electric components that are mostly (if not exclusively) analog in nature. Indeed, unlike many other technologies, digital has not completely supplanted analog transmission and signals.
However, no mass-produced and internet-connected device relies on analog devices at this point, save for some limited components within the device.