01
das Bit
bit
The smallest unit of digital information in computer science and data processing, which can take on one of two states, usually 0 or 1.
example
Acht Bits ergeben ein Byte.
Eight bits make one byte.
das Bit
bit
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Bit' is an abbreviation from English and stands for 'binary digit' ('Binärziffer' in German). So it literally describes a digit that can take on only two values.
EXAMPLE
Ein Computer verarbeitet Informationen in Form von Millionen von Bits.
A computer processes information in the form of millions of bits.
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Although 'Bit' is a technical term from computer science, it is now also used in everyday language when talking about computers, internet speeds, or data storage.
EXAMPLE
Meine Internetverbindung hat 50 Megabit pro Sekunde.
My internet connection has 50 megabits per second.
Typical collocations
'Bit' is often used in combination with numbers that are powers of two, such as 8, 16, 32, or 64. The most important unit is the byte, which consists of eight bits.
EXAMPLE
Moderne Prozessoren arbeiten mit einer 64-Bit-Architektur.
Modern processors work with a 64-bit architecture.
Compare with
Bit vs Flag
flag
'das Bit' and 'die Flag' both occur in computer science and can have to do with two states, such as 0 or 1. A bit, however, is the smallest unit of digital information. A flag, by contrast, is a marker or signal that indicates a specific state. A flag can technically be stored using a bit, but it is not simply the same thing as a bit. There is a risk of confusion because both often distinguish between only two possibilities.
Bit
Ein Bit kann nur den Wert 0 oder 1 haben.
A bit can only have the value 0 or 1.
Flag
Zur Kontrolle setzt das Programm eine Flag, wenn der Vorgang beendet ist.
For checking purposes, the program sets a flag when the process is finished.
In real life
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