Computer Science: Binary (2024)

FAQs

Computer Science: Binary? ›

What is binary? Binary is a number system that only uses two digits: 1 and 0. All information that is processed by a computer is in the form of a sequence of 1s and 0s. Therefore, all data that we want a computer to process needs to be converted into binary. The binary system is known as a 'base 2' system.

The binary number system is the base of all computing systems and operations.

Binary numbers form the basis of computing systems. Binary numbers contain only the digits 0 or 1, or bits, where each bit represents a power of two. To convert binary to decimal, multiply each bit by its corresponding power of two and add the results.

Current uses of binary

Most modern computers use binary encoding for instructions and data. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs represent sound and video digitally in binary form. Telephone calls are carried digitally on long-distance and mobile phone networks using pulse-code modulation, and on voice over IP networks.

Binary data is data whose unit can take on only two possible states. These are often labelled as 0 and 1 in accordance with the binary numeral system and Boolean algebra.

Modern computers still use binary code in the form of digital ones and zeroes inside the CPU and RAM. A digital one or zero is simply an electrical signal that's either turned on or turned off inside of a hardware device like a CPU, which can hold and calculate many millions of binary numbers.

Binary is based on Boolean Algebra because it's a base 2 system, and Decimal is a base 10 system that goes from 0-9 instead of 0 or 1 like Binary which is a base 2 system. Computers easily understand binary because its based off on and off states (0 or 1) with 0 being off and 1 being on.

01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100001

Those ones and zeros might not look like anything to you, but in binary code the numbers are actually saying “Hello!”

A ternary computer, also called trinary computer, is one that uses ternary logic (i.e., base 3) instead of the more common binary system (i.e., base 2) in its calculations. Ternary computers uses trits, instead of binary bits.

Seeing a series of zeros and one might intimidate you, but the truth is, this numerical system is one of the simplest and easy-understand coding systems. If you want to learn more about binary code, you may read the free binary tutorial linked in this article.

What is binary in computer science? ›

In computer science and mathematics, binary is a system where numbers and values are expressed 0 or 1. Binary is base-2, meaning that it only uses two digits or bits. For computers, 1 is true or "on", and 0 is false or "off". The concept of binary and bits are based on of Boolean Algebra.

Binary is important because it allows for the efficient storage and processing of data. It also provides a universal language for communication between computers and other digital devices, allowing them to interact with one another.

Computers use bits (binary digits) to represent data as ones and zeroes. Bits are the smallest piece of information a computer can store. Explore how computers use the binary number system to represent numbers, text, images, and sound with electrical signals in their circuits.

Binary code is the most basic form of computer code, consisting of two numbers: 0 and 1. These numbers form the basic layer of all computing systems and are the primary language of digital technologies. Binary code uses combinations of these two numbers to represent numbers, letters, or other types of information.

Let's touch on the important uses of binary numbers in programming. Notably, understanding binary becomes imperative for tasks like optimizing assembly code, writing device drivers, and interfacing directly with hardware.

Computers use binary code to process and store information since the physical states of a computer's transistors being on or off lend themselves to a two-symbol method of notation. A single binary digit is referred to as a bit and is represented by zero or one; eight bits make up a byte.

A ternary computer, also called trinary computer, is one that uses ternary logic (i.e., base 3) instead of the more common binary system (i.e., base 2) in its calculations.