Self-synchronizing code facts for kids

In telecommunications, a self-synchronizing code, or comma-free code, is a line code that can be easily synchronized. Such line codes have the property that the code which is made of a part of the code word, or two overlapping code words is not a valid code. An example, take the code words 11 and 00, and the code 11 00 00 11 00. The spaces have been added to show the different words, and are not really in the code. Let's now assume that four letters (two code words) are read. The code 1000 is not a valid code, because 10 is not one of the two code words defined. Similarly, 0001. Even though 00 is a valid word, 01 is not. The only valid way to read two valid words from the example given is by starting at the very beginning, or just after one of the spaces, which have been inserted for clarity only.