What is the primary difference between digital and analogue inputs?

The primary difference between digital and analogue inputs lies in how they represent information. Analogue inputs are continuous in nature, meaning they can take on an infinite number of values within a given range. This characteristic allows analogue inputs to capture varying degrees of information, such as temperature, light intensity, or sound waves. For example, a temperature sensor can report any temperature value rather than just specific points.

On the other hand, digital inputs are discrete. This means they can only represent specific values, typically represented by binary states, such as on and off (or 1 and 0). Digital systems rely on these distinct states to process and manipulate information in a straightforward manner, which facilitates data storage and transmission.

This distinction between continuity in analogue inputs and discreteness in digital inputs is fundamental in understanding how different types of information are processed in computing systems.