Coding and decoding method and apparatus using plural scanning patterns

PURPOSE: A method and device for coding by using a plurality of scanning patterns, and a method and a device for decoding are provided to realize the coding and decoding of image data having various characteristics at a high efficiency. CONSTITUTION: A coding device using a plurality of scanning patterns includes a scan part(71) and a variable length coding part(72). The scan part scans NxM data input from the outside by at least a scan pattern selected by a switching part(73) on the basis of a scan pattern selecting signal. The NxM data are read out by a predetermined sequence and converted to symbol data. The variable length coding part codes the symbol data by variable length. A coding control part has logics for selecting the scan pattern and provides the scan pattern selecting information to the switching part.