How many characters can an 8-bit ASCII code represent?

How many characters can an 8-bit ASCII code represent?
A: 1000 characters
B: 390 characters
C: 156 characters
D: 256 characters

An 8-bit ASCII code can represent 256 characters (2^8). This question tests knowledge of character encoding in computer studies exams. ASCII’s role in text representation is a significant topic. Update (as of 2025-09-05)