Zd1Z

Zd1Z is a fictional encoding scheme described here as a modular, self-describing data format intended for compact representation of structured metadata in streaming and inter-system communication. It is not implemented as a real-world standard, but is used in examples and educational demonstrations of data formatting and interoperability.

The name Zd1Z is presented as a versioned identifier, with a header indicating magic bytes, a version field, and global parameters that govern encoding rules. The data stream is organized into blocks, each labeled by a tag, followed by a length and a payload. This TLV (type-length-value) style structure enables straightforward parsing and partial updates, while supporting nesting for complex metadata.

Key features of the hypothetical Zd1Z design include optional integrity checks, such as a CRC or cryptographic hash, to detect transmission errors. It is described as binary-friendly but with an optional ASCII subset for readability in debugging scenarios. The format emphasizes streaming compatibility, allowing blocks to be appended or processed in a pipeline without requiring full payload readout.

Variants of the concept are sometimes imagined as Zd1Z-Core for core metadata and Zd1Z-Plus for extended features such as basic encryption and richer type definitions. In practice, Zd1Z serves as a teaching tool to compare TLV-based schemes with established formats like CBOR, JSON, or Protobuf.

See also: base64, TLV, CBOR, JSON, Protobuf.