What Is Bit (binary Digit) In Computing? - TechTarget

Importance of bits in the real world

Various combinations of bits -- combinations of 0s and 1s -- are used to represent numbers larger than 1. For example, an 8-bit binary number can represent 256 possible numbers from 0 to 255. A 16-bit binary number can represent even more numbers: 0 to 65,535. These combinations are important in computing because they determine which information is entered into and processed by a computing device.

A bit is always in one of two physical states, similar to an on/off light switch. The state is represented by a single binary value, usually 0 or 1. However, states might also be taken to mean yes/no, on/off or true/false. These binary values play an important role in many application areas, including the following:

• Computer programming.
• Telecommunications.
• Data analytics.
• Digital security.

In computer programming and data analysis, bits enable programmers to optimize code and create sophisticated algorithms for various applications like data processing. Programmers can manipulate individual bits to efficiently process large data sets and reduce memory usage even for complex data analysis/processing algorithms.

In telecommunications, data and audio/video signals are encoded and represented as multiple series of bits. These digital pieces of data are then transmitted over long distances through wireless or wired communication networks. The bit rate is an important concept in telecommunications because it impacts the speed and quality of the data transmission. It refers to the number of bits transmitted in a given time period, usually represented as the number of bits per second or some derivative, such as kilobits per second.

Finally, many data encryption and security methods rely on bits to safeguard data. Encryption keys are used to encrypt and decrypt data. Consisting of a series of bits, the keys are needed to convert plaintext data that anyone can read into encrypted characters that can only be decrypted and read by those who have the keys. Key holders are usually the data sender and the data recipient. In general, the longer the encryption key, i.e., the greater number of bits it contains, the stronger the encryption algorithm and the harder it is for unauthorized or malicious users to break it to read or steal the encrypted data.