1. the process of converting a continuous range of values into a finite range of discrete values
Usage: technical; physics; mathematics
2. in physics, the restriction of a physical quantity to discrete values rather than a continuous range
Usage: physics; quantum mechanics
3. in digital signal processing, the process of mapping input values to output values with a smaller set of possible values
Usage: technical; engineering

Examples

• The quantization of energy levels in atoms explains why electrons occupy specific orbits.
• Digital audio requires quantization to convert analog sound waves into discrete values.
• The quantization error becomes more noticeable when using fewer bits per sample.
• Quantum mechanics introduced the concept of quantization to explain atomic behavior.
• The engineer adjusted the quantization parameters to reduce noise in the signal.
• Quantization is essential for storing continuous data in digital formats.