Term of the Moment
CMOS
Definition: bit
(1) (Built-In Test) See BIST.
(2) (BInary digiT) The basic unit of digital data. A single digit in a binary number, the bit is a 0 or 1. In a memory cell, the bit is a transistor and capacitor. On disk and tape, the bit is a spot, and its magnetic direction determines the 0 or 1. In a solid state drive (SSD), the bit is a cell that holds a charge.
Transmitting Bits
Transmitted as pulses, bits are used as a measurement of network transmission. For example, one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) means one billion pulses are transmitted in a second. See space/time.
Storing Bytes
Eight bits make up a "byte," which is manipulated as a single entity. Each byte can store one alphanumeric character, one or two decimal digits or a binary number from 0 to 256 (see byte, binary number and binary values). The size of a file, database, storage drive and memory (RAM) is given in bytes rather than bits. See space/time and word.
Storage - Keep Making the Spot Smaller
Transmission - Keep Making the Spot Smaller
(2) (BInary digiT) The basic unit of digital data. A single digit in a binary number, the bit is a 0 or 1. In a memory cell, the bit is a transistor and capacitor. On disk and tape, the bit is a spot, and its magnetic direction determines the 0 or 1. In a solid state drive (SSD), the bit is a cell that holds a charge.
Transmitting Bits
Transmitted as pulses, bits are used as a measurement of network transmission. For example, one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) means one billion pulses are transmitted in a second. See space/time.
Storing Bytes
Eight bits make up a "byte," which is manipulated as a single entity. Each byte can store one alphanumeric character, one or two decimal digits or a binary number from 0 to 256 (see byte, binary number and binary values). The size of a file, database, storage drive and memory (RAM) is given in bytes rather than bits. See space/time and word.
Making the spot or cell smaller increases storage capacity. Today's drives hold staggering amounts of data compared to early computers because, for more than 70 years, storage research and development is all about making the spot smaller. For a fascinating storage technology that has yet to become popular, see holographic storage.
The bit is transmitted as a pulse of high or low voltage and the smaller the elements that make up a transistor, the faster electricity travels across them. Transferring pulses within the computer is much simpler than transmitting them over an external network where they are influenced by distance and interference. See transistor.