The '''binary system''' is a way of representing numbers in base 2, i.e. using only the digits 0 and 1. The term 'Binary' means ''composed of two parts'' and comes from the Latin, originally meaning "two by two". Binary, or base 2, is one of many possible [[Number Systems]].
A number written in the system can be denoted by following it with a subscipt subscript 2, i.e. <sub>2</sub>. Each digit represents the number of a power of 2 in the complete number, similarly to in the [[decimal system]], where each digit represents the number of a power of 10. The power is defined by the number of digits in the number from right to left through the digit, minus 1, e.g. 100<sub>2</sub>, where the digit 1 is the third digit from the right, and thus represents 2<sup>2</sup>, or 4. While it is generally impractical for [[human]] use, it is the mainstay of modern [[computing]]. A binary system is also used in [[electronics]], which commonly uses '''0''' to mean "no voltage is present" '''1''' to mean "a voltage is present". Binary notation is used in circumstances in which a thing is in one of two possible conditions and no other condition is possible; the switch is on or the switch is off, the page has data on it or the page has no data.
To increment a binary number, follow this rule: