Comsci -Topic 1

Binary

Binary is the fundamental number system used by computers to represent all data and instructions.

How is all data on computer stored

binary format

bit

the smallest binary unit

Byte

a sequence of 8 bits

Name all binary units and their abbreviations value and an everyday use case

Nibble

a sequence of 4 bits

Every day examples - Know these ones

• A compressed HD movie is about 8GB​

• An MP3 song file is about 4MB​

• A photo from a digital camera is about 10MB​

• A Word document of a few pages is about 50KB

Why do computers use binary

Computers store and process all data as binary numbers, since binary corresponds directly to electrical on/off signals.

The CPU and memory rely on transistors and logic circuits that interpret these electrical signals as binary values.

Secondary storage uses other physical methods, such as magnetic charges or optical pits, yet all data converts back to electrical binary signals for CPU processing.

How is Data Saved and Transmitted

Programs are made up of binary instructions that are stored in memory and processed by a CPU​

• All data is saved in secondary storage in a binary representation, including:​

• Text​

• Images​

• Video​

• Sound

• All data transmitted across networks is sent in binary form, either as electrical pulses, light or encoded in radio waves

what can binary represent