Binary is a number system that uses only two digits: 0 and 1. It's the foundation of most computer systems and digital communications because it aligns well with the on-off nature of electronic circuits. In binary, each digit is referred to as a "bit."
For example, the binary number 1011 translates to the decimal number 11. Here's a quick breakdown of how that conversion works:
- The rightmost digit (1) is in the 2^0 place (1’s place).
- The next digit to the left (1) is in the 2^1 place (2’s place).
- The next digit (0) is in the 2^2 place (4’s place).
- The leftmost digit (1) is in the 2^3 place (8’s place).
So, you add up the values where there’s a 1:
1 (2^0) + 2 (2^1) + 0 (2^2) + 8 (2^3) = 11
This is how binary numbers are converted to decimal numbers. Binary is essential in computing because it provides a simple way to represent and process data using only two states.