Term of the Moment
glossaries in this publication
Definition: binary
(1) A binary is an executable program. See bin and bin file.
(2) Meaning two states (0 and 1). Binary is the basic operation in every digital device both for storage and execution. It is manifested physically as a charge in a storage cell or a voltage in a transmission line. It is the simplicity of the binary concept that enabled digital devices to become the technology architecture of modern society.
Binary Concepts Go Back to the 1600s
Although binary-based computers began to proliferate in the 1950s, English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon created a secret code of the alphabet consisting only of the letters "a" and "b" in 1623. For example, his initials "FB" were coded as "aabab aaaab."
Internally Everything Is Binary
All input is converted to a 0 or 1. For example, pressing "A" on the keyboard generates the binary number 01000001 and sends it to the computer's RAM as on/off pulses defined by voltage levels. The bits are stored as temporarily charged cells in RAM, as permanent charges in a solid state drive (SSD) or as microscopic magnets on a hard drive. The computer's display screen and printers convert the binary numbers into visual characters.
Circuits Are Binary
The electronic circuits that process the binary data are also binary. They are made up of on/off switches (transistors) that are electrically opened and closed. The current flowing through one switch turns on (or off) another switch, and so on. These switches open and close in nanoseconds and picoseconds (billionths and trillionths of a second). See Boolean gates.
Smaller Spots - Faster Switches
A computer's capability to do work is based on its workspace capacity (RAM), storage capacity (disk or SSD) and the speed of its circuits. Greater capacities are achieved by making the memory cells or magnetic spots smaller. Faster circuits are achieved by shortening the time to open or close the transistor, which is derived by making the elements of the transistor smaller and smaller (see process technology). See bit, byte, binary numbers, binary values, binary file, binary standard and binaries.
How Binary Numbers Work
In the decimal numbering system, adding 9 and 1 produces a result of 0 in the 1s position plus a carry of 1. The carry jumps over to the 10s position on the left.
For the True Geek
(2) Meaning two states (0 and 1). Binary is the basic operation in every digital device both for storage and execution. It is manifested physically as a charge in a storage cell or a voltage in a transmission line. It is the simplicity of the binary concept that enabled digital devices to become the technology architecture of modern society.
Binary Concepts Go Back to the 1600s
Although binary-based computers began to proliferate in the 1950s, English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon created a secret code of the alphabet consisting only of the letters "a" and "b" in 1623. For example, his initials "FB" were coded as "aabab aaaab."
Internally Everything Is Binary
All input is converted to a 0 or 1. For example, pressing "A" on the keyboard generates the binary number 01000001 and sends it to the computer's RAM as on/off pulses defined by voltage levels. The bits are stored as temporarily charged cells in RAM, as permanent charges in a solid state drive (SSD) or as microscopic magnets on a hard drive. The computer's display screen and printers convert the binary numbers into visual characters.
Circuits Are Binary
The electronic circuits that process the binary data are also binary. They are made up of on/off switches (transistors) that are electrically opened and closed. The current flowing through one switch turns on (or off) another switch, and so on. These switches open and close in nanoseconds and picoseconds (billionths and trillionths of a second). See Boolean gates.
Smaller Spots - Faster Switches
A computer's capability to do work is based on its workspace capacity (RAM), storage capacity (disk or SSD) and the speed of its circuits. Greater capacities are achieved by making the memory cells or magnetic spots smaller. Faster circuits are achieved by shortening the time to open or close the transistor, which is derived by making the elements of the transistor smaller and smaller (see process technology). See bit, byte, binary numbers, binary values, binary file, binary standard and binaries.
How Binary Numbers Work
In the decimal numbering system, adding 9 and 1 produces a result of 0 in the 1s position plus a carry of 1. The carry jumps over to the 10s position on the left.
carry--1
9
+ 1
____
10
Binary Decimal
0 0
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
1 1
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
10 2
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
11 3
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
100 4
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
101 5
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
110 6
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
111 7
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
1000 8
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
1001 9
+ 1 + 1
____ ____
1010 10
This analog wristwatch displays the hours in binary. Only four bits (1, 2, 4 and 8) are required to hold 12 hours. The hour hand is currently at 10 o'clock, which shows the 2-bit and 8-bit turned on. (Image courtesy of Cadence Watch Company.)