Why do people send and save numeric data as ASCII characters?

on thing has baffled me lots of code see desire store numeric data plain text when more efficient store data without doing conversions.

here disadvantages converting data plain text:

• increase in storage requirements takes more memory store data leaving it's binary representation
  
• potential loss in precision. applies data either float or fixed point data. example code outputs 4 decimals have had more if saved float/double.
  
• it converted anyway.
  
• increase in amount of data transfer
  
• requires more cpu time convert data ascii representation bad high speed data logging

so these disadvantages why in right mind convert data ascii representation unless needs displayed human?

quote

... lots of code ...

example?

Arduino Forum > General Category > General Discussion (Moderators: mbanzi, DojoDave, mellis) > Why do people send and save numeric data as ASCII characters?

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