From David Bolton,
Your Guide to C / C++ / C#.
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Definition: Binary refers to base two arithmetic using the digits 0 and 1. This corresponds to the electric current in a wire- its either On (a value of 1) or Off ( a value of 0) and this is known as a bit, derived from Binary dIgiT.

A binary number can be converted to base ten (decimal) by starting at the rightmost bit and multiplying each successive bit to the left by two. The rightmost bit is multiplied by 1, the next to the left by 2 then 4 etc.

In decimal arithmetic each place to the left is multipled by ten. The rightmost digit is multipled by one, the next to the left by ten, and so on.

147₁₀ = (1 * 100) + (4 * 10) + (7 * 1).

1011₂ = (8 * 1) + (4 * 0) + (2 * 1) + (1*1) = 11₁₀.

In programming, binary is sometimes used to save space by packing several boolean values into one int.

Note

Machine Code is sometimes known as binary.

Glossary:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Also Known As: Base Two

Examples: There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.