Analog

/ˈænəlɔːɡ/

adjective … “Continuous representation of information.”

Analog refers to signals, data, or systems that represent information using continuous physical quantities rather than discrete values. In computing and electronics, analog signals vary smoothly over time, often representing real-world phenomena such as sound, light, temperature, or voltage. Analog systems contrast with digital systems, which represent data using discrete levels or binary values.

Key characteristics of Analog include:

• Continuity: values can take any value within a range, without discrete steps.
• Signal representation: often voltage, current, or frequency variations encode information.
• Sensitivity to noise: analog signals can degrade due to interference or distortion.
• Conversion requirement: analog-to-digital conversion is often needed for digital processing.
• Applications: audio systems, radio transmission, sensors, instrumentation, and control circuits.

Workflow example: Representing sound with an analog waveform:

microphone_voltage = analog_signal.read()
amplified_signal = amplifier.process(microphone_voltage)
speaker.write(analog_signal=amplified_signal)

Here, the microphone captures sound as a continuous voltage, which is processed and output to a speaker, demonstrating analog signal flow.

Conceptually, Analog is like a dimmer switch for lights: the brightness can vary smoothly across a continuous range rather than being limited to fixed levels.

See DAC, ADC, Signal Processing, Radio, Digital.