Adaptive differential pulse-code modulation

Okay, so you know how when you talk to your friends on the phone, they might sound different than when you talk to them in person? That's because the phone turns your voice into something called "code" so it can travel through the wires and reach your friend's phone.

Adaptive differential pulse-code modulation (ADPCM for short) is a special way to turn your voice into code that makes it sound more like your real voice when it comes out of the phone on the other end.

You know how when you draw a picture, you might use dots to make it look like there is a smooth line? It's kind of like that with ADPCM. Instead of turning your voice into a bunch of regular "dots," ADPCM uses "differential" dots that try to capture the smaller changes in your voice. That way, when your friend hears your voice on the other end of the phone, it sounds more like you're talking right there next to them!

But there's one more cool thing about ADPCM. It's "adaptive," which means it can adjust how it turns your voice into code depending on how loud or quiet you're speaking. So if you shout into the phone, ADPCM will make the code "bigger" to capture all the extra sound. But if you whisper, ADPCM will make the code "smaller" so it doesn't take up too much space.

Overall, adaptive differential pulse-code modulation is a way to make sure your voice sounds as good as possible when you talk on the phone, no matter how loud or quiet you're speaking!