What Is Binary Format?

Have you ever thought about how your computer works? I can promise you it's not all because of magic. In reality, it's accomplished by employing a format known as binary. "What is the binary format?" you may ask. Simply put, it's a system for encoding data with two possible values, 0 and 1. That's precisely it! However, don't let the apparent simplicity mislead you; this fundamental structure provides the basis for everything that occurs within your computer. When wrapping your head around binary format, it helps to consider how humans communicate. Humans have developed a communication system based on using words and symbols to communicate meaning. Sentences and paragraphs constructed from these words and symbols communicate an overarching idea. The only difference is that computers interact with one another via electrical signals rather than words and symbols. And instead of an alphabet or other symbols, they use just two "letters," or numbers, to communicate: 0 and 1. Binary is the language used by computers to store and transfer information. Everything you see on the screen, from letters and numbers to symbols and even blank spaces, is represented by a string of zeros and ones somewhere in the computer's memory. How does this actual function, then? In this example, we assume you wish to save the letter "A" in a computer's memory. For the computer to remember the letter "A," it must first generate and store a unique sequence of zeros and ones. The letter "A" could be represented in binary by the sequence 01000001. The computer looks up this binary code whenever it needs to show you the letter "A" on your screen and converts it back and forth between the two forms. However, binary can also represent numbers and other symbols besides letters. This system can represent everything from numbers and symbols to pictures and sounds. Bits, which are smaller units of information made up of 0s and 1s, are used by computers to represent more complicated information. Even though a single bit can only represent the values 0 and 1, computers can represent much more complex information by stringing together multiple bits. A "byte" is an information unit that can represent a single character, such as a letter or symbol, and it is comprised of 8 bits. More bits allow computers to accurately represent complex data such as images and sounds. The next time you use a computer and are amazed by what it can do, think about the binary system. "Even though it is simple, it is the foundation on which all modern computers are built."