binary systems

Binary is a numerical notation that has 2 as a base.  In computing, a binary digit, or bit, of 1 or 0 is used to represent whether electricity is switched on (1) or off (0). This process of electricity being switched on and off happens on billions of transistors (tiny switches) inside the computer’s processor.  In this way, binary is used to store data inside a computer processor.  

Computers can only read and understand binary.  When a computer programmer writes a program for example, the computer code is converted by a translator into binary instructions that the processor can execute.  In fact, everything on the computer is represented as streams of binary numbers, including audio, images and characters.  Each set of binary numbers is encoded in different patterns, which give them meaning.  The code 01000100 could be the number 67, the character B, or the colour of an image.       

This is a list of specific applications of binary:

 

• Boolean logic - a form of algebra used in computer science in which values are reduced to either true or false, 1 or 0.
• American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) - uses a 7-bit  binary code to represent text and other characters within computers (see video below).
• Images on the screen are encoded with a binary file for each pixel.
• CDs and DVDs represent sound and video digitally in binary form.