What is a key advantage of digital instrumentation over analog instrumentation?

The key advantage of digital instrumentation over analog instrumentation is enhanced precision and data analysis. Digital systems operate using discrete values, typically representing data in binary format. This characteristic allows for more accurate measurements as they can reduce the effects of noise and signal degradation that are inherent in analog systems.

Digital instrumentation often incorporates sophisticated algorithms that enhance data processing and analysis, enabling more reliable and detailed information extraction from the measurements. As a result, users can perform complex calculations, data logging, and even real-time monitoring with greater reliability and accuracy.

In contrast to this, higher energy consumption, complex circuitry, and increased physical size do not represent the advantages offered by digital systems. In fact, digital instruments are often designed to be more efficient in terms of power and space, featuring simplified circuitry that can be more compact and less prone to physical degradation over time.