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What is Binary? | Number Systems Explained - Qpidi

Everybody know writing numbers right? You know 1 2 3 4 5 usual stuff but have you ever know this numbers all at base of 10 so we gonna call them decimal system but there is a another number system usually computers uses that is a binary system like their name there is only two option 1 or 2 so what are they where they use for lets find out.


Binary and Number System Explained
Binary and Number System Explained

What is Binary?

Binary is a simple way of counting that only uses two numbers: 0 and 1. Think of 0 as 'off' and 1 as 'on'. Each 0 or 1 is called a 'bit', which is a short form for 'binary digit'. While we use ten different numbers (0 to 9) in our daily life, computers only use 0 and 1.


What is Bit?

A "bit" is a fundamental concept in computing and digital communications. The word itself is a contraction of "binary digit". A bit is the smallest unit of data in a computer and can have a value of either 0 or 1. These two values correspond to the off and on states of a switch or transistor in a computer's hardware.


Example of Bit

Let's break it down with a simple example. Imagine a light bulb that can be either off or on. In the world of computers, we use a bit to represent the state of this light bulb.


-When the light bulb is off, we can represent this as a 0.

-When the light bulb is on, we represent this as a 1.

-Bit is single unit in Binary.


What is Nibble?

A "nibble" is a term used in computing to describe a collection of four bits. Since a single bit can be either a 0 or a 1, a nibble can represent any of 16 different values (2^4 combinations). It's essentially half of a byte, as a byte consists of 8 bits.


Here's a simple way to visualize it:

  • Imagine you have four light switches in a row. Each switch can be either on or off.

  • The combination of these on and off positions in all 4 switches can represent different patterns or information.

  • In binary terms, these combinations range from 0000 to 1111.

Nibbles are particularly useful in the context of hexadecimal representation. In hexadecimal (a base-16 numbering system), each digit can represent 16 different values (0 to 15). Since a nibble can also represent 16 different values, one nibble corresponds to a single hexadecimal digit. This makes nibbles convenient for representing binary data in a more compact and readable form.

For example, the binary sequence 1010 (a nibble) can be represented as 'A' in hexadecimal. This compact representation is often used in programming and computer engineering, especially when dealing with low-level data.


What is 8-Bit?

The term "8-bit" refers to a style or capability where each piece of data is represented by 8 bits. In computing, a bit is the most basic unit of data, which can be either 0 or 1. When you have 8 bits together, it's commonly called a byte.


  1. Like a Series of 8 On/Off Switches: Imagine having 8 light switches in a row. Each switch can be either on (1) or off (0). The combination of these on and off positions in all 8 switches can represent a lot of different patterns or information.

  2. How Much Can 8 Bits Represent?: With 8 bits, you can have 256 different combinations (from 00000000 to 11111111 in binary). In computer language, this can be used to represent numbers from 0 to 255, or different characters like letters, punctuation marks, or control codes in text.

  3. 8-Bit in Video Games and Graphics: When people talk about 8-bit in the context of video games or graphics, they're often referring to the style that was common in the early days of video games. These games had a certain look because they were limited to an 8-bit color palette, meaning they could display up to 256 different colors. This created a distinctive, pixelated style that's quite nostalgic and popular even today.

  4. 8-Bit Computers and Consoles: Early home computers and gaming consoles were often 8-bit. This means that their processors could handle 8 bits of data at a time. Famous examples include the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Commodore 64.


What is Words?

In computing, a "word" is a term that refers to the standard unit of data used by a particular computer architecture. The size of a word is important because it often defines the amount of data that a processor can handle and process in one operation. Here are some key points about a word:

  1. Variable Size: The size of a word can vary depending on the computer's architecture. Common sizes include 16 bits, 32 bits, and 64 bits. For example, a 32-bit word can handle 32 bits of data at a time.

  2. Processor and System Architecture: The word size is closely tied to the processor and system architecture. A 32-bit processor, for instance, typically uses 32 bits as its word size. This impacts the processor's data handling capacity and memory addressing.

  3. Data Processing: In practical terms, the word size determines how much data the CPU can process at once. A larger word size generally allows for more efficient data processing, as more data can be handled in each operation.

  4. Memory Addressing: The word size also influences the computer's memory addressing. For instance, a 32-bit system can address 2^32 memory locations, while a 64-bit system can address 2^64 memory locations.

  5. Software Compatibility: Software is often designed with a particular word size in mind. This is why some software is labeled as being for 32-bit or 64-bit systems. The software must match the word size of the processor to run efficiently.


Why Do Computers Use Binary?

Computers use binary because they have millions of tiny on-off switches, called transistors. These switches understand only 'yes' (1) or 'no' (0).

  • Storing Stuff: When your computer saves anything, it's using binary. Each bit is like a tiny switch that can be turned on or off.

  • Doing Math and Stuff: When you ask your computer to do something, it breaks down your request into simple yes or no questions in binary.

  • Talking to Other Computers: Whether it’s sending an email or loading a webpage, computers use binary to talk to each other.





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