What is binary and why is it used in computers?

Binary is a base-2 number system using only 0 and 1, representing off/on electrical states in computer circuits. Each digit is a 'bit.' Computers use binary because digital electronics can reliably distinguish between two states (high/low voltage), making binary the foundation of all digital computing and data storage.

How do I convert decimal to binary?

To convert decimal to binary, repeatedly divide the number by 2 and record the remainders. Read the remainders from bottom to top to get the binary number. For example, 13 in decimal: 13÷2=6 r1, 6÷2=3 r0, 3÷2=1 r1, 1÷2=0 r1, giving binary 1101.

How do I convert binary to decimal?

Each binary digit represents a power of 2, starting from 2⁰ on the right. Multiply each bit by its position value and sum them. For example, binary 1101 = (1×2³) + (1×2²) + (0×2¹) + (1×2⁰) = 8 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 13 in decimal.

What's the relationship between binary and hexadecimal?

Hexadecimal (base-16) is a compact way to represent binary. Each hexadecimal digit represents exactly 4 binary bits. For example, hex F = binary 1111, hex A = binary 1010. This makes hex convenient for representing long binary numbers in programming, using digits 0-9 and letters A-F.

What is a bit vs. a byte?

A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of data, with a value of 0 or 1. A byte is 8 bits grouped together, capable of representing 256 different values (0-255 in decimal, 00-FF in hex). Bytes are the standard unit for measuring data storage and memory.