bit Last modified: Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. The term was first used in 1946 by John Tukey, a leading statistician and adviser to five presidents. A single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1. More meaningful information is obtained by combining consecutive bits into larger units. For example, a byte is composed of 8 consecutive bits. Computers are sometimes classified by the number of bits they can process at one time or by the number of bits they use to represent addresses. These two values are not always the same, which leads to confusion. For example, classifying a computer as a 32-bit machine might mean that its data registers are 32 bits wide or that it uses 32 bits to identify each address in memory. Whereas larger registers make a computer faster, using more bits for addresses enables a machine to support larger programs. Graphics are also often described by the number of bits used to represent each dot. A 1-bit image is monochrome; an 8-bit image supports 256 colors or grayscales; and a 24- or 32-bit graphic supports true color.
Data Representation This is Chapter 1 of Randall Hyde's book, "Art of Assembly Language." It describes the binary and hexadecimal numbering systems, binary data organization (bits, nibbles, bytes, words, and double words), signed and unsigned numbering systems, arithmetic, logical, shift, and rotate operations on binary values, bit fields and packed data, and the ASCII character set.	Related Categories Data Sizes Measurement Operating Systems Related Terms 16-bit 32-bit address space BER BERT bit bucket bit rate bit stuffing Class C network kilobit megabit nibble octet PIA quantum computing qubit register bit Products : Top Store Offers: Ohio Power Tool  80.50Diamond Products Core Bore Premium Black Diamond Core Bits (SELECT SIZE) DP05293 - 1" Core Bit Amazon  50.36Cutting diameter 1-31/32-Inch 1/8-Inch to 3/16-Inch cutting height 1/2-Inch shank, 2-wing Carbide tipped, industrial quality, Manufacturer: Amana Tool... Tyler Tool  106.99The Freud 99-037 Finger Joint Router Bit has a 1-3/8" Overall Diameter with a carbide height of 1-9/16", cut depth of 5/16", minor height of 21/64" an... Crutchfield  49.99Ratcheting Straight/Offset Driver/40 Bit Includes case, adjustable ratchet handle, offset driver, magnetic extension and bit holder, stabilizer, and b... Shoplet.com  6.85Pilot Pen 57 200, 1/4 Shank Chamfer Router Bit With 3/16 Diameter Brass Pilot Guide, 22.5° Cutting Angle. Classic Deluxe Mechanical Pencil Compare all matches: 19173 Store Offers