Base: 2

The binary (base-2) numeral system uses only two digits: 0 and 1. It is the fundamental language of digital computers, where each digit represents a single bit — an electrical signal that is either off (0) or on (1).

How it works

Each position represents a power of 2, increasing from right to left:

1011 = 1×8 + 0×4 + 1×2 + 1×1 = 11

Digits

0 1

Uses

Binary is used internally by all modern computers. File storage, memory addresses, and network protocols all rely on binary representation at the lowest level.