hollerith code: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (specialized/historical)Technical, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “hollerith code” mean?
A specific system of punched card data encoding, historically used for representing alphanumeric characters and other data for mechanical processing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific system of punched card data encoding, historically used for representing alphanumeric characters and other data for mechanical processing.
Refers broadly to any character encoding scheme used in early punched card systems, especially those used in tabulating machines, data processing, and early computing. The term is often used historically to describe the forerunner of modern digital data encoding.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; the term is equally technical and historical in both varieties.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of antiquated technology, foundational computing history, and mechanical data processing.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse. Slightly more likely to appear in American texts due to the technology's origins with Herman Hollerith and IBM's historical prominence in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “hollerith code” in a Sentence
[The] Hollerith code was used for [purpose]Data was encoded in Hollerith codeA system based on Hollerith codeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hollerith code” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Hollerith-code system
- Hollerith-card reader
American English
- Hollerith-code format
- Hollerith-card equipment
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Only in historical discussions of data processing or archival business records.
Academic
Used in history of technology, computer science history, and information science courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the specific 12-bit row/column punching system on 80-column cards.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hollerith code”
- Misspelling as 'Hollereith' or 'Holerith'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to hollerith the data').
- Confusing it with the later, more common ASCII code.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a completely obsolete historical technology, superseded by magnetic and electronic data storage and encoding standards like ASCII and Unicode.
It is named after Herman Hollerith, an American inventor who developed an electromechanical punched card tabulating machine in the late 19th century, crucial for the 1890 US census.
Hollerith code was a physical, mechanical encoding system using holes in paper cards, while ASCII is a digital, electronic character encoding standard using bits and bytes.
It represents a foundational step in the automation of data processing and is a direct precursor to modern digital computing, illustrating the transition from physical to digital information representation.
A specific system of punched card data encoding, historically used for representing alphanumeric characters and other data for mechanical processing.
Hollerith code is usually technical, historical, academic in register.
Hollerith code: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒlərɪθ ˌkəʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːlərɪθ ˌkoʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'HOLE-in-a-card' for 'Hollerith' – the code was represented by holes punched in cards.
Conceptual Metaphor
DATA IS A PHYSICAL PATTERN (of holes).
Practice
Quiz
What is the Hollerith code primarily associated with?