ENCODING APPARATUS, DECODING APPARATUS, ENCODING/DECODING SYSTEM AND PROGRAM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To include less dummy data in encoded data in the present configuration than otherwise in encoding symbols to byte boundaries.SOLUTION: A group comprising a plurality of symbols is generated. A plurality of encoding buffers 58 are provided for storing such groups. A symbol having a maximum bit number of the symbols constituting the group is detected, and a storage destination of the group is selected from the plurality of encoding buffers 58 according to the maximum bit number. The symbols constituting the group stored in the encoding buffer 58 are substituted to a bit number specific to the encoding buffer 58 which is equal to or greater than the maximum bit number. One or more groups comprising such substituted symbols are collected on each encoding buffer 58 to generate a supergroup whose code amount is a multiple of eight bits.