Binary is a way of representing information using only two symbols: typically 0 and 1. It’s the fundamental language of computers and digital systems because it’s simple and reliable for electronic circuits to handle. In binary, each digit is called a bit, which stands for “binary digit.” Unlike the decimal system we use every day, which is based on ten digits from 0 to 9, binary uses just these two. Even though it seems limited, combining bits allows you to represent any number, letter, or piece of data. For example, the binary number 1010 represents the decimal number 10. Computers store and process everything—numbers, text, images, sounds—by breaking them down into long sequences of these 0s and 1s. This works well because electronic components like transistors can easily be in one of two states: on or off, corresponding to 1 or 0. That makes binary a natural fit for computer hardware. So, whenever you see complex software, high-definition video, or even a simple text file on your screen, it’s all ultimately built from enormous strings of binary data working behind the scenes.
