Encoding device, decoding device, encoding method and decoding method

Abstract

An encoding method according to an embodiment includes an index generating step and an encoding step. The index generating step generates a common index in which numbers of one or more reference images included in a first index and numbers of one or more reference images included in a second index are sorted in a combination so as not to include a same reference image. The first index is set to represent a combination including the one or more reference images referred to by a first reference image. The second index is set to represent a combination including the one or more reference images referred to by a second reference image. The numbers of the reference images included in the first index and the second index are scanned in a predetermined order. The encoding step encodes the common index.