What is Binary?
Binary (also known as base-2) is a numeral system that uses only two symbols: 0 and 1. It is the fundamental language of computers, where all data and instructions are ultimately represented as sequences of binary digits (bits).
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Binary Number System |
|---|---|
| Created | Ancient origins, computing use from 1940s |
| Specification | Official Specification |
How It Works
Binary is the foundation of all digital computing because electronic circuits can easily represent two states: on (1) and off (0). Each binary digit is called a bit, and 8 bits form a byte. Binary arithmetic follows the same principles as decimal but with only two digits, so 1 + 1 = 10 (carrying to the next position). While humans find binary cumbersome for large numbers, computers process it efficiently. Binary is used to represent everything in computers: numbers, text (via ASCII/Unicode), images, audio, and machine instructions.
Key Characteristics
- Base-2 number system using only 0 and 1
- Each digit is called a bit (binary digit)
- 8 bits = 1 byte (256 possible values)
- Directly maps to electronic on/off states
- Foundation of all digital computing
- Powers of 2: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128...
Common Use Cases
- Computer data storage and processing
- Network data transmission
- File encoding and compression
- Bitwise operations in programming
- Digital logic and circuit design
Example
Loading code...Frequently Asked Questions
Why do computers use binary instead of decimal?
Computers use binary because electronic circuits can easily represent two states: on (1) and off (0). This makes binary more reliable and efficient for electronic hardware than representing 10 different voltage levels for decimal.
How do I convert decimal to binary?
Divide the decimal number by 2 repeatedly, recording the remainder each time. Read the remainders from bottom to top to get the binary equivalent. For example, 10 ÷ 2 gives remainders 0,1,0,1, so 10 in binary is 1010.
What is the largest number that can be stored in 8 bits?
An unsigned 8-bit number can store values from 0 to 255 (2^8 - 1). If signed (using two's complement), it can store values from -128 to 127.
What are bitwise operations and why are they useful?
Bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, shifts) manipulate individual bits directly. They are useful for flags, permissions, compression, cryptography, and low-level optimization where performance is critical.
How is text represented in binary?
Text is represented using encoding schemes like ASCII or Unicode. Each character is assigned a numeric code that is stored in binary. For example, 'A' is 65 in ASCII, which is 01000001 in binary.