Abstract: A picture encoding device for compressing picture data using the Huffman encoding system includes a grouping portion for recognizing a group to which an AC coefficient belongs, and a data processing unit receiving a run-length, a group number, and an additional bit, which are output from the grouping portion, for recognizing a ZRL* code and an effective coefficient. If the run-length group number (N/S) is an effective symbol, i.e., not a ZRL* code, the data processing unit transmits the effective symbol to a Huffman encoding portion in the next stage. If the N/S comprises a ZRL* code, a ZRL* code count detection counter is incremented. If an EOB* code follows a ZRL* code, ZRL* codes are deleted in a number corresponding to the count value from the ZRL* code count detection counter. The picture encoding device effectively carries out Huffman encoding without encoding unnecessary ZRL* codes in a Huffman encoding system.