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bit
Thus, a bit in its simplest for can be thought of as a number which takes a value of 0 (for its off state) and 1 (for its on state). Since no other values can be assigned to a bit, it conveniently replaces a digit in a binary number system (base 2) and is used by computers to handle all information.
Bits taken in groups can be used to represent larger numbers that are later translated to other types of information (such as text, graphics and practically everything else that might be stored on and used by a computer).
Groups of bits have names for different quantities. Please see byte for more information on these names.
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bit
bit
A '''bit''' (short for '''b'''inary dig'''it''') is the most basic piece of information which a computer handles. A bit is defined by one of two possible states: on and off.Thus, a bit in its simplest for can be thought of as a number which takes a value of 0 (for its off state) and 1 (for its on state). Since no other values can be assigned to a bit, it conveniently replaces a digit in a binary number system (base 2) and is used by computers to handle all information.
Bits taken in groups can be used to represent larger numbers that are later translated to other types of information (such as text, graphics and practically everything else that might be stored on and used by a computer).
Groups of bits have names for different quantities. Please see byte for more information on these names.
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