What does "半角" mean in English?
半角 (hanjaku) is a Japanese term that refers to half-width characters, also known as single-byte characters. These characters are commonly used in computer systems, especially in Japan and other Asian countries. In contrast, full-width characters, also known as double-byte characters, take up two character spaces and are often used in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese text.
The meaning of half-width characters
Half-width characters are a type of character encoding that uses only one byte to represent each character. This is in contrast to full-width characters, which use two bytes to represent each character. Half-width characters are commonly used in computer systems because they take up less space and are easier to process than full-width characters. They are also used in many programming languages and databases, as well as in email addresses and URLs.
The use of half-width characters in Japan
In Japan, half-width characters are commonly used in text messaging, email, and social media. They are also used in many Japanese websites and online forums. In addition, many Japanese keyboards have a "半角/全角" (hanjaku/zenkaku) key that allows users to switch between half-width and full-width characters. This is especially useful when typing in Japanese, as some characters are only available in full-width or half-width form.
The benefits of using half-width characters
There are several benefits to using half-width characters in computer systems. First, they take up less space than full-width characters, which can be important in systems with limited storage capacity. Second, they are easier to process and manipulate, which can improve system performance. Third, they are more compatible with international standards and can be used in a wider range of applications. Finally, they are more familiar to users who are accustomed to typing on Western-style keyboards, which can improve usability and reduce errors.
The future of half-width characters
As computer systems become more globalized, the use of half-width characters is likely to become more widespread. They are already widely used in Japan and other Asian countries, and are becoming more common in other parts of the world as well. In addition, the development of new technologies such as mobile devices and cloud computing is likely to increase the demand for half-width characters, as they are well-suited to these types of applications. Overall, the future looks bright for half-width characters, and they are likely to play an important role in the world of computing for many years to come.