What does a binary digit stand for?

Answer 1

Depends on the context. Is it used just for math? If so, then it is just a different mathematical procedure.

Is it used for computers or electronics? If so, then the bits (binary digits) represent power being supplied somewhere. 0 (which universally means nothing) represents off, or no power or charge. 1 represents the object having a charge or power.

In networking, 0 means nothing and 1 means there is data in that area. Take for instance, if you were writing the binary notation of an IP address, you would first write out the place values:

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

Next, you write out the IP Address. Each spot between the periods represent bytes of data. These consist of 8 bits (or binary digits).

192.168.0.1

00000000.00000000.00000000.00000000 (this is an example laying out how the IP address would look in binary notation; notice how long it is?)

Now, imagine the little chart in bold above this above each byte of data. To find out the binary form of each IP block, you would first have to do some math.

Here's an example for 192: Ask these questions:

• How many can 128 go into 192? Answer: Yes. You place a "1" beneath the 128 place holder. Then subtract 128 from 192 to get 64.
• Since there is a 64 place value, you put a 1 there. Fill the rest with 0's since you finished at 64.

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

..1....1...0....0.0.0.0.0

Basically, the binary for 192 is 11000000. Now you do the same for the other blocks.

168 = 10101000

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

..1....0...1....0.1.0.0.0

0 = 00000000

1 = 00000001

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

..0....0...0....0.0.0.0.1

Now, you put all of the blocks to get the binary notation of 192.168.0.1, which is: 11000000.10101000.00000000.00000001

Confusing? I know. I had a hard time when I first learned the binary counting system.