packed decimal

1 definition found

packed decimal - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  binary coded decimal
  BCD
  packed decimal
  
     <data> (BCD, packed decimal) A number representation where a
     number is expressed as a sequence of decimal digits and then
     each decimal digit is encoded as a four-bit binary number (a
     nibble).  E.g. decimal 92 would be encoded as the eight-bit
     sequence 1001 0010.
  
     In some cases, the right-most nibble contains the sign
     (positive or negative).
  
     It is easier to convert decimal numbers to and from BCD than
     binary and, though BCD is often converted to binary for
     arithmetic processing, it is possible to build hardware that
     operates directly on BCD.
  
     [Do calculators use BCD?]
  
     (2001-01-27)