What is Binary System? How it is used in the world of computer?

Binary System

Among all the positional number systems, the binary system is the most dominant number system that is employed by almost all the modern digital computer systems. The binary system uses base 2 to represent different values. Therefore, the binary system is also known as the base-2 system. As this system uses base 2, only two symbols are available for representing the different values in this system. These symbols are 0 & 1, which are also known as bits in computer terminology. Using the binary system, computer systems can store & process each type of data in terms of 0s and 1s only.

    The following are some of the technical terms used in the binary system.

• Bit - It is the smallest unit of information used in a computer system. It can either have the value 0 or 1. Derived from the words Binary digit.
• Nibble - It is a combination of 4 bits.
• Byte - It is a combination of 8 bits. Derived from words 'by eight'.
• Word - It is a combination of 16 bits.
• Double word - It is a combination of 32 bits.
• Kilobyte(KB) - It is used to represent the 1024 bytes of information.
• Megabyte(MB) - It is used to represent the 1024KBs of information.
• Gigabyte(GB) - It is used to represent the 1024 MBs of information.

We can determine the weight associated with each bit in the given binary number in a similar manner as we did in the decimal system. In the binary system, the weight of any bit can be determined by raising 2 to a power equivalent to the position of bit in the number.