Category: Definition

Bit

A bit is short for "binary digit". A bit is the smallest possible digital information unit with values of 1 or 0. Every piece of information is bound to an information carrier. The value of one or more bits is generally called state in information technology. In general, every piece of information that can exist in two possible states can be representd by 1 bit. Therefore, the following exemplary facts can be described using the information quantity of one bit:

• The position of a switch with two states. For example a light swithch can have the two states on and off.
• The state of a transistor, "low resistance" or "high resistance".
• The existence of a voltage or stress, which is lower or higher than a given value.
• A variable which can have one of two values, e.g. 0 or 1, the boolean operators true or false , high or low, yes or no.

Eight bit make up a byte.