A scheme that aids in the interpretation of an element value. These schemes include controlled vocabularies and formal notations or parsing rules. A value expressed using an encoding scheme will thus be a token selected from a controlled vocabulary (e.g., a term from a classification system or set of subject headings) or a string formatted in accordance with a formal notation.

A set of specific definitions that describe the philosophy used to represent character data. The number of bits, the number of bytes, the allowable ranges of bytes, the maximum number of characters, and the meanings assigned to some generic and specific bit patterns, are some examples of specifications found in such a definition.

A set of specific definitions that describe the philosophy used to represent character data. Examples of specifications in such a definition are: the number of bits, the number of bytes, the allowable ranges of bytes, maximum number of characters, and meanings assigned to some generic and specific bit patterns.

The set of rules by which graphic characters and control characters are given a specific encoded value. Standards organizations define encoding schemes, such as ASCII, Unicode, and ISO/IEC 10646. For example, in IBM, the EBCDIC encoding scheme is used for AS/400 systems and the PC encoding scheme for PCs. The underlying part of a code page where the following are defined: The coding space (number and allowable value of code points in a code page). The rules for sharing the coding space between control and graphic characters. The rules related to specific options, such as the number of bits in a byte, single-byte, or double-byte, permitted in that scheme. In DB2 UDB for AS/400, a set of rules to represent character data when converting from one type of character data to another, such as from ASCII to EBCDIC.

A set of rules used to represent character data. For example: Single-byte EBCDIC Single-byte ASCII Mixed single- and double-byte EBCDIC Mixed single- and double-byte ASCII UCS-2 (universal coded character set).

See "Character Encoding Schemes".