Binary
A way of representing information using only two options.
Decimal
A way of representing information using ten options.
Bit
A contraction of "Binary Digit"; the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1
Byte
8 bits
Overflow Error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large.
Round-off Error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded.
Digital Data
Data that changes discretely through a finite set of possible values
Sampling
A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals called samples.
Analog Data
Data with values that change continuously, or smoothly, over time. Some examples of analog data include music, colors of a painting, or position of a sprinter during a race.
Lossless Compression
A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information. This process is reversible.
Intellectual Property
A work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a piece of writing or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.
Creative Commons
A collection of public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work, used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that they have created
Lossy Compression
A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost or thrown away. This process is not reversible.