Technology Fundamentals
Binary
Definition
Binary is a base-2 number system that uses only two symbols: typically 0 and 1. It is the most fundamental language of computers, as all computer data is ultimately represented as a series of binary digits, or bits.
Why It Matters
Understanding binary is key to understanding how computers work at their lowest level. Every character you type, every image you see, and every program you run is stored and processed as a sequence of 0s and 1s.
Contextual Example
The letter "A" in the ASCII character set is represented in binary as 01000001. When you press the "A" key, the computer processes this binary code.
Common Misunderstandings
- Binary is not a programming language that humans write in, but the machine code that processors execute.
- A "bit" is a single binary digit (a 0 or a 1), and a "byte" is a group of 8 bits.