Correct spelling for the English word "EACDIC" is [ˈiːkdɪk], [ˈiːkdɪk], [ˈiː_k_d_ɪ_k] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
EACDIC is a historical encoding system used primarily for representing and storing textual data in computer systems. It stands for Extended American National Standard Code for Information Interchange (EACDIC), and it was developed by IBM in the 1960s.
EACDIC is essentially an extended version of the earlier character encoding standard known as BCDIC (Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code). It was designed specifically for compatibility with IBM's mainframe computers and their associated peripheral devices.
This encoding system assigns a unique 8-bit binary code to each character representation it supports, including uppercase and lowercase alphabets, numerical digits, special characters, and control characters. It differs from the more widely used ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) encoding in that it uses a different character mapping scheme.
EACDIC encoding is primarily used in legacy IBM mainframe systems, typically running on operating systems such as OS/360, OS/390, and z/OS. It allows these systems to represent and process text data according to the EACDIC character mapping.
While EACDIC is less common in modern computer systems and programming languages, its historical significance is noteworthy, particularly in legacy mainframe environments. Many enterprises that continue to rely on these systems often encounter challenges when interacting with more contemporary technologies that use alternative character encodings such as ASCII or Unicode.