Bit means “binary digit” and describes the smallest unit of information in a computer whose status can only change between 0 “power off” and 1 “power on”. It is a component of digital information and data processing. As a whole, 8 bits form a byte.
So that we humans can understand the status, the output of the bit patterns is converted into characters that we can read. Bits are thus used to encode and store texts, images, videos, audio files and other types of data in digital systems. If not all bits are transmitted during a data transfer, this is referred to as a bit error.
Bits are fundamental to modern information technology. The combination and manipulation of bits makes it possible to perform complex calculations, encoding and decoding of data and to realize the functioning of computers and digital devices of all kinds.
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