The primary difference between the analog and the digital filter is that a digital filter needs to

sample the input signal (analog signal) and then convert it into binary numbers. These numbers
are stacked (stored) as digital data in a system hard drive, treated, and manipulated digitally. On
the other hand, an analog filter does not need to go through such conversion, instead, the signal
stays in its analog form throughout the process of filtering.

Digital Filters
A digital filter needs an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) in order to convert an analog signal
into a set of binary numbers. A very fast and robust microprocessor unit processes these binary
numbers. After processing, they are sent to another circuit known as Digital-to-Analog Converter
(DAC) in order to convert the binary numbers back into an analog signal.
In signal processing, a digital filter is a system that performs mathematical operations on
a sampled, discrete-time signal to reduce or enhance certain aspects of that signal. This is in
contrast to the other major type of electronic filter, the analog filter, which is typically
an electronic circuit operating on continuous-time analog signals.
A digital filter system usually consists of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to sample the
input signal, followed by a microprocessor and some peripheral components such as memory to
store data and filter coefficients etc. Program Instructions (software) running on the
microprocessor implement the digital filter by performing the necessary mathematical operations
on the numbers received from the ADC. In some high performance applications,
an FPGA or ASIC is used instead of a general purpose microprocessor, or a specialized digital
signal processor (DSP) with specific paralleled architecture for expediting operations such as
filtering.
Digital filters may be more expensive than an equivalent analog filter due to their increased
complexity, but they make practical many designs that are impractical or impossible as analog
filters. Digital filters can often be made very high order, and are often finite impulse response
filters, which allows for linear phase response. When used in the context of real-time analog
systems, digital filters sometimes have problematic latency (the difference in time between the
input and the response) due to the associated analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions
and anti-aliasing filters, or due to other delays in their implementation.
Digital filters are commonplace and an essential element of everyday electronics such
as radios, cellphones, and AV receivers.
Difference between Analog filter and Digital filter

Characteristics Analog Filter Digital Filter

Working signals These filters work with analog or These filters work with digital samples of
actual signals the signal

Representation These filters are represented by These filters are represented by linear
linear differential equations difference equations

Components Implementing such filters requires Implementing such filters requires adders,
resistors, inductors, and capacitors subtractors, and delays

Frequency Approximation problem is Special coefficients are designed in order to

response computed in order to achieve the meet the expected frequency response
desired frequency response

Stable & Causal Transfer function G(s) should be a Transfer function G(s) should be a rational
Response rational function of laplace function of z-transform z, whose
variable s, whose coefficients are coefficients are real numbers.
real numbers.

Stability & Poles of transfer function should Poles of transfer function should lie inside
Causality in terms lie on left-half of s-plane the unit circle of z-plane
of Poles

Environmental Because of components tolerance, These types of filters are less sensitive
changes these filters are more sensitive to towards environmental changes, noise, and
environmental changes disturbances.

Flexibility They are less flexible in nature They are more flexible because software
and control programs can be modified
easily according to the requirements.

Adaptability These types of filter are less These types of filter are more adaptive
adaptive; we have to redesign the because they are programmable; which
filter if we want to make any means that we can make any changes in it
changes. without affecting the filter circuitry.

Additive noise These filters introduce thermal These filters introduce digital noise because
noise due to components of quantization process

Cost Higher because of analog Less costly

components involvement

Coefficients Not programmable Programmable; that’s why easy to make

changes
 Characteristics Analog Filter Digital Filter

Design Difficult to design and then Significantly easy to design and simulate on
simulate because of several software program
components

ADC, DAC, AND In such filters, there is no need for These filters need high performance ADC,
DSP Requirement ADC, DAC, and DSP DAC, and DSP tools

Advantages of Analog Filters

o It is quite easy to apply, as there is no need for a microprocessor.
o There is no need to write a program/algorithm.
o Easy RC filters need very few components.

Advantages of Digital Filters

o In advanced appliances that already use a microprocessor, a digital filter will demand
very few extra components.
o Since digital filters are simply software modules, they can be easily standardized.
o Digital filters are capable of filtering very low frequencies.
o They are adaptive in nature; which means that their characteristics can be changed based
on input signal parameters.