Term of the Moment
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Definition: bitmap
A binary representation in which a bit or set of bits corresponds to some part of an object such as an image or font. For example, in monochrome systems, one bit represents one pixel on screen. For gray scale or color, several bits in the bitmap represent one pixel. The term may refer to the image itself or to the memory area that holds the bits that represent the image. See pixel and rasterize.
Graphics and Tables
A bitmap is usually associated with graphics, in which the bits are a direct representation of the pixels in the image. However, bitmaps can be used as tables to represent and keep track of anything, where each set of bits is assigned a value or condition. See bitmapped graphics. For graphics fundamentals, see graphics.
A Monochrome Bitmap
Graphics and Tables
A bitmap is usually associated with graphics, in which the bits are a direct representation of the pixels in the image. However, bitmaps can be used as tables to represent and keep track of anything, where each set of bits is assigned a value or condition. See bitmapped graphics. For graphics fundamentals, see graphics.
The left half of this diagram shows the bits in the bitmap, and the right half depicts what would show on screen. In monochrome systems, one bit is used to represent one pixel. Images that are scanned into the computer are turned into bitmaps, and bitmaps can be created in a paint program.