The UTF-8 encoding. It's optimal in so many ways it's like a quadruple bank shot. Here's a 1997 paper talking about some of its properties: https://www.sw.it

The UTF-8 encoding. It's optimal in so many ways it's like a quadruple bank shot. Here's a 1997 paper talking about some of its properties: https://www.sw.it.aoyama.ac.jp/2012/pub/IUC11-UTF-8.pdf https://www.sw.it.aoyama.ac.jp/2012/pub/IUC11-UTF-8.pdf Between UTF-8 and Unix, Ken Thompson is my engineering hero.