Difference between revisions of "Binary bit"
(I think I'm done now....) |
m (categorize and move request) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | {{move|Bit (computers)}} | ||
'''''This page refers to the binary bit. This is not to be confused with a [[drill bit]] or portion (bit) of something.''''' | '''''This page refers to the binary bit. This is not to be confused with a [[drill bit]] or portion (bit) of something.''''' | ||
| Line 8: | Line 9: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[category:Computer Science]] [[category:Mathematics]] | ||
Revision as of 16:50, June 13, 2016
- It has been proposed that this page, :Binary bit, be titled, "Bit (computers)".
This page refers to the binary bit. This is not to be confused with a drill bit or portion (bit) of something.
A bit is a single binary character. it is either a zero or a one. This is because data is stored in a "yes/no" format. On a magnetic drive, a point it magnetized as north or south. If it is recorded as north, this means 0, if South, then 1. In all other cases, a pulse or change is a one. A lack of signal or change means a zero. Optical drives have the foil backing melted in points to make these ones--gaps are zeros. Flash memory uses physical switches, which are set to "yes" or "no" (one or zero) by electric impulses. As a computer works and "thinks," it sends pulses through it's various systems for ones, and pauses for zeros. [1]
Regardless of the storage method, there is always a one or a zero. For ease of use, bits are often grouped together by eights, into what is known as a byte.[2]