A method for encoding and storing digital data, which include a plurality of real values, in a signal processing unit of a radar sensor in which at least one real value r in an exponential representation in the form r=m·b−k is stored, where m is a digital mantissa having a length p, b is a base, and k is a positive number that is encoded as a digital number having a length q. An exponential representation with b>2 is used for the compressed storage of the values r.