A coding device having an evaluation section for deciding, on the basis of the characteristics of an image signal having a plurality of pixel data, the coding order for the plurality of pixel data. The evaluation section selects pixel data having a strong correlation with respect to a given noted pixel data, from the plurality of pixel data, and decides the selected pixel data a pixel data next to the noted pixel data. The coding device has a coding section for coding the plurality of pixel data in the order decided by the evaluation section.