Bit (digit)

From C64-Wiki

A bit is the lowest dimension unit in the computer science. The word is a shortcut of Binary Digit. Another word is binary number.

A bit has got two states; either 0 (this means, that no electricity flow or light off) or 1 (this means, that electricity flow or light on). With a multiple of a bit, can be accomplished calculations or can be pictured chars. The bit-combination 01000001 at the C64 has got the numeric worth 65 or the char A. Normally eight bits are added together to one byte (the bit 0 is the rightest). Furthermore is the designation of memory in Bits, in storage capacities in Bytes and in data transferrates in bit/s (or baud). Also the word bit is a component of the Words like bitmap (other word for picture) or bit rate (data tranfer),

Also n bits can be combined to new untis:

 2 bits: crumb, quad, quarter, tayste, tydbit 
 3 bits: basic of octalnumbersystems
 4 bits: half-byte, nibble, basic of hexadecimalsystem
 5 bits: nickle 
 8 bits: byte, today standard-unit
10 bits: deckle 
16 bits: playte, chawmp (used on 32-bit) or in "low- and high-Byte" (used on 8-bit)
18 bits: chawmp (uesed on 36-bit)
32 bits: dynner, gawble (used on 32-bit)
48 bits: gawble