A base-2 numbering system using the digits 0 and 1 (as opposed to 10 digits [0 - 9] in the decimal system). In computer systems, the binary digits are represented by two different voltages or currents, one corresponding to 0 and the other corresponding to 1. All computer programs are executed in binary form.

Binary representation requires a greater number of digits than the base 10 decimal system more commonly used. For example, the base 10 number 254 is 11111110 in binary.

The result of a binary multiplication contains the sum of digits of the original numbers. So:

10101111 x 11010100 = 1001000011101100

(In decimal 175 x 212 = 37,100)

(From right to left, the digits represent 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, 32768)

Each digit is known as a bit. This example multiplies two 8-bit numbers to produce a 16-bit result, a very common process in digital television equipment.

See also: Bit, Byte, Digital.