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.
•E-mail this definition to a colleague• For internet.com pages about bit . Also check out the following links! 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.	Data Sizes Measurement Operating Systems 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 Give Us Your Feedback bit Products : Top Store Offers: Amazon  2.76Bosch not only has a rich heritage in concrete, but is the largest manufacturer of concrete drill bits in the world Complete program including all siz... Ohio Power Tool  80.50Diamond Products Core Bore Premium Black Diamond Core Bits (SELECT SIZE) DP05293 - 1" Core Bit Toolup.com  52.62dewalt DW5728 1 1/4 x 17 x 22 2 Cutter Spline Shank Rotary Hammer Bit Dewalt DW5728 Specifications: 1 1/4 Diameter 17 Usable Length 22 Ove... 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 Northern Tool  39.99This CarveWright replacement straight cutting bit with adapter is designed for use with the CarveWright system. Works With: CarveWright System, Bits (... Compare all matches: 20195 Store Offers