An arithmetic encoder (34;400) for encoding a plurality of symbols (24", 410) having symbol values, wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to determine one or more state variable values (s 1 k, s 2 k; 642,644; 710;810;910;1010a,1010b;1082a,1082b;1110;1210;1310; 1410;1510;1632,1642;1732,1742), which represent statistics of a plurality of previously encoded symbol values, and wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to derive an interval size information (p k, R*p k; 432;534;620;720;820;820;1020;1084;1120;1320;1420;1520;1662;1762) for an arithmetic encoding of one or more symbol values to be encoded on the basis of the one or more state variable values (s i k), which represent statistics of a plurality of previously encoded symbol values, wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to update a first state variable value (s k 1) in dependence on a symbol to be encoded and using a look-up table; wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to selectively increase or decrease a previously computed state variable value by a value determined using the look-up table in dependence on whether a symbol to be encoded takes a first value or a second value which is different from the first value; and characterised in that the arithmetic encoder is configured to determine an index of an entry of the lookup table to be evaluated when updating the first state variable value in dependence on a sum of a predetermined offset value and the previously computed first state variable value ( s 1 k), or a scaled and/or rounded version ( s 1 k ⋅ m 1 k) thereof, if the symbol to be encoded takes the first value; and wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to determine an index of an entry of the lookup table to be evaluated when updating the first state variable value in dependence on a sum of the predetermined offset value and an inversed version, that is, multiplied by -1 of the previously computed first state variable value, or of a scaled and/or rounded version ( − s 1 k ⋅ m 1 k) thereof, if the symbol to be encoded takes the second value. wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to determine one or more state variable values (s 1 k, s 2 k; 642,644; 710;810;910;1010a,1010b;1082a,1082b;1110;1210;1310; 1410;1510;1632,1642;1732,1742), which represent statistics of a plurality of previously encoded symbol values, and wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to derive an interval size information (p k, R*p k; 432;534;620;720;820;820;1020;1084;1120;1320;1420;1520;1662;1762) for an arithmetic encoding of one or more symbol values to be encoded on the basis of the one or more state variable values (s i k), which represent statistics of a plurality of previously encoded symbol values, wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to update a first state variable value (s k 1) in dependence on a symbol to be encoded and using a look-up table; wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to selectively increase or decrease a previously computed state variable value by a value determined using the look-up table in dependence on whether a symbol to be encoded takes a first value or a second value which is different from the first value; and characterised in that the arithmetic encoder is configured to determine an index of an entry of the lookup table to be evaluated when updating the first state variable value in dependence on a sum of a predetermined offset value and the previously computed first state variable value ( s 1 k), or a scaled and/or rounded version ( s 1 k ⋅ m 1 k) thereof, if the symbol to be encoded takes the first value; and wherein the arithmetic encoder is configured to determine an index of an entry of the lookup table to be evaluated when updating the first state variable value in dependence on a sum of the predetermined offset value and an inversed version, that is, multiplied by -1 of the previously computed first state variable value, or of a scaled and/or rounded version ( − s 1 k ⋅ m 1 k) thereof, if the symbol to be encoded takes the second value.