Block
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The concept of a block appears in various fields:

Telecommunication

In telecommunication, the term block has the following meanings:

1. A group of bits or digits that is transmitted as a unit and that may be encoded for error-control purposes.

2. A string of records, words, or characters, that for technical or logical purposes are treated as a unit.

Note 1: Blocks (a) are separated by interblock gaps, (b) are delimited by an end-of-block signal, and (c) may contain one or more records.

Note 2: A block is usually subjected to some type of block processing, such as multidimensional parity checking, associated with it.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188

Computing

1. In programming languages, a block forms a subdivision of a program that serves to group related statements, delimit routines, specify storage allocation, delineate the applicability of labels, or segment parts of the program for other purposes.
2. In data storage, either in primary or on secondary storage, grouped data can occur in units known as blocks. Compare block size (data storage and transmission).

Cryptography

See block cipher.

Mathematics

See block matrix.

Construction

In the construction (building) industry, a block comprises a shaped piece of masonry.

Philately

In philately, a block is an attached group of postage stamps; see postage stamp block.

Urban Planning

A block is the smallest part of a town enclosed by streets.

A block can also mean an Apartment Block (Block of Flats in British English).

See also: block size.

The original article can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block.
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