DOTEM is an information-coding method which is used to represent same on physical media with the aid of dots and in a computerised format, in memory and on networks with bits. The method is based on the broad concept of characters grouped into alphabets. The characters comprise dots on documents, for example, and bits in machine format. The physical characters have specific dots that are not represented in machine format in order to enable same to be located on media, such as the foot of a character and the head of a character. Each character can represent at least the 256 values of an octet. The character concept is extended such that it can be identified by the value thereof and, such that it can be identified by the value thereof and, taken together, can represent one or more variables having any dimension but determined in the structure of the character. The complex data and the context thereof can be described by a series of characters in the form of words or even sentences with a direct language correspondence. As a result, the representation is simpler and more concise. The characters are constructed over several columns for documents and over several octets for machine format. The characters can code values far greater than the octet, such that tags or field delimiters can be designated directly without the need for prior formatting.