What if we have a number of bits that are non-divisible by 8? Is that possible?

You can always add zeroes to create 8 bit chunks.

How do quantum computers work with bits and bytes?

Quantum computers do not work with traditional bits and bytes; rather, quantum computing uses qubits, which stems from the phrase "quantum bit." Providing an in-depth explanation of qubit operation would be difficult to do in this comment, and I am certainly no expert on the subject matter. Here are two resources to develop a better understanding of the subject: https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing/quantum-computing-101 https://devblogs.microsoft.com/qsharp/what-are-qubits/

What does it mean when you download software and it asks for 32 or 64 bit/byte file type?

32 and 64 are referring to the number of bits that the CPU can use at once. Most modern computers now use 64 bits which allows them to work faster and take advantage of larger amounts of memory. Usually, 32-bit programs will work on a 64-bit machine (though not always). However, 64-bit programs cannot be used on 32-bit machines.

"At 12:18, what does the concept of byte-addressable imply? A computer should be able to store an individual piece of information, being made of wires?"

A byte is a grouping of eight bits. Byte-addressable means that the computer stores data in bytes instead of single bits for example. Wires are used for transporting information, computers generally don't use them as a storage device.

why everyone can say AP CS is easy. I obviously saw them really complex-.-

Took both AP CSA and CSP, got decent scores, throughout my high school. Relatively, its not really as complex. AP CSP is basically basic programming understanding and what an IT Person would know. You really need to like computers or you will actually get bored in the course, as its really complex. Additionally, look into youtube for further videos on that. As someone's who studying in a STEM Course, a great way to find time is to actually understand the concept behind everything, from abstract to the physical.

Is there a limit to the binary number system? MAX values?

actually the max number for binary in one group is 255

Why bytes?Like why is it 8 and not like like 10 wouldn't that make it easier.

In our base 10 system, 10 is a place value represented by 10^1. In binary, however, it's in base 2, so 8 is a place value represented by 2^3. It's 8, because 8 is close to our friend 10.

if bits were a thing you can hold what would it look like?

We sort of already have that. Take a coin for example, it could either have heads facing up, or tails. So it has two possible states, which is what a bit is. However, a coin _stores_ a bit, rather than actually _being_ a bit. I don't exactly know what bits themself would look like, since they're really just an idea, rather than an actual object.

Main content

AP®︎/College Computer Science Principles

Course: AP®︎/College Computer Science Principles > Unit 1

Lesson 1: Bits and bytes

Bytes

Google Classroom

A bit is the smallest piece of information in a computer, a single value storing either

0

1

A byte is a unit of digital information that consists of $8$ ‍ of those bits.

Here's a single byte of information:

11110110

Here are three more bytes of information:

00001010 01010100 11011011

From bits to bytes

Conversion between bits and bytes is a simple calculation: divide by

8

to convert from bits to bytes or multiply by

8

to convert from bytes to bits. Try it yourself!

Check your understanding

How many bytes long is this binary sequence?

1011100111011011011010010011010101111111

Check your understanding

How many bits are in

8

bytes of information?

Why bytes?

What is so special about

8

bits that it deserves its own name?

Computers do process all data as bits, but they prefer to process bits in byte-sized groupings. Or to put it another way: a byte is how much a computer likes to "bite" at once.

The byte is also the smallest addressable unit of memory in most modern computers. A computer with byte-addressable memory can not store an individual piece of data that is smaller than a byte.

**Memory**
Address	Data
1	11110000
2	00001010
3	00100110
4	11000001

What's in a byte?

A byte represents different types of information depending on the context. It might represent a number, a letter, or a program instruction. It might even represent part of an audio recording or a pixel in an image.

We'll explore how computers can use bits and bytes to represent all types of information in this unit.

🙋🏽🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏿‍♂️Do you have any questions about this topic? We'd love to answer— just ask in the questions area below!

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Proud
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Proud's post “What if we have a number ...”
What if we have a number of bits that are non-divisible by 8? Is that possible?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Proud's post “What if we have a number ...”
(24 votes)
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- Martin
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Martin's post “You can always add zeroes...”
  You can always add zeroes to create 8 bit chunks.
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  (56 votes)
hello.
Posted 9 months ago. Direct link to hello.'s post “And half a bit is a nibbl...”
And half a bit is a nibble lol
Button navigates to signup pageComment on hello.'s post “And half a bit is a nibbl...”
(13 votes)
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- Gentoo is Based
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Gentoo is Based's post “Actually a nibble is 4 bi...”
  Actually a nibble is 4 bits.
  Comment on Gentoo is Based's post “Actually a nibble is 4 bi...”
  (5 votes)
ralvarez5g
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to ralvarez5g's post “How do quantum computers ...”
How do quantum computers work with bits and bytes?
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(7 votes)
Answer
- Shane McGookey
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Shane McGookey's post “Quantum computers do not ...”
  Quantum computers do not work with traditional bits and bytes; rather, quantum computing uses qubits, which stems from the phrase "quantum bit."
  
  Providing an in-depth explanation of qubit operation would be difficult to do in this comment, and I am certainly no expert on the subject matter. Here are two resources to develop a better understanding of the subject:
  
  https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing/quantum-computing-101
  
  https://devblogs.microsoft.com/qsharp/what-are-qubits/
  Button navigates to signup page
  (14 votes)
mbanks
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to mbanks's post “if bits were a thing you ...”
if bits were a thing you can hold what would it look like?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- Evan
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Evan's post “We sort of already have t...”
  We sort of already have that. Take a coin for example, it could either have heads facing up, or tails. So it has two possible states, which is what a bit is. However, a coin stores a bit, rather than actually being a bit. I don't exactly know what bits themself would look like, since they're really just an idea, rather than an actual object.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (17 votes)
ian.moss1218
Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to ian.moss1218's post “What does it mean when yo...”
What does it mean when you download software and it asks for 32 or 64 bit/byte file type?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on ian.moss1218's post “What does it mean when yo...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- KLaudano
  Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to KLaudano's post “32 and 64 are referring t...”
  32 and 64 are referring to the number of bits that the CPU can use at once. Most modern computers now use 64 bits which allows them to work faster and take advantage of larger amounts of memory. Usually, 32-bit programs will work on a 64-bit machine (though not always). However, 64-bit programs cannot be used on 32-bit machines.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (11 votes)
Judepius Ugwuanyi
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Judepius Ugwuanyi's post “"At 12:18, what does the ...”
"At
12:18
, what does the concept of byte-addressable imply? A computer should be able to store an individual piece of information, being made of wires?"
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(5 votes)
Answer
- Martin
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Martin's post “A byte is a grouping of e...”
  A byte is a grouping of eight bits. Byte-addressable means that the computer stores data in bytes instead of single bits for example.
  
  Wires are used for transporting information, computers generally don't use them as a storage device.
  Comment on Martin's post “A byte is a grouping of e...”
  (7 votes)
arsenalriufan
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to arsenalriufan's post “why everyone can say AP C...”
why everyone can say AP CS is easy. I obviously saw them really complex-.-
Button navigates to signup pageComment on arsenalriufan's post “why everyone can say AP C...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- jeorbeta
  Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to jeorbeta's post “Took both AP CSA and CSP,...”
  Took both AP CSA and CSP, got decent scores, throughout my high school.
  
  Relatively, its not really as complex. AP CSP is basically basic programming understanding and what an IT Person would know. You really need to like computers or you will actually get bored in the course, as its really complex.
  
  Additionally, look into youtube for further videos on that. As someone's who studying in a STEM Course, a great way to find time is to actually understand the concept behind everything, from abstract to the physical.
  Comment on jeorbeta's post “Took both AP CSA and CSP,...”
  (7 votes)
Goku101
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Goku101's post “Why bytes?Like why is it ...”
Why bytes?Like why is it 8 and not like like 10 wouldn't that make it easier.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Goku101's post “Why bytes?Like why is it ...”
(3 votes)
Answer
- CreatorOfBob
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to CreatorOfBob's post “In our base 10 system, 10...”
  In our base 10 system, 10 is a place value represented by 10^1. In binary, however, it's in base 2, so 8 is a place value represented by 2^3.
  
  It's 8, because 8 is close to our friend 10.
  Comment on CreatorOfBob's post “In our base 10 system, 10...”
  (8 votes)
Benny
Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to Benny's post “I know i'm in highschool ...”
I know i'm in highschool but my braincells cannot comprehend this use of inexplicit code...(im tired
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(6 votes)
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Marcus Morales
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Marcus Morales's post “Is there a limit to the b...”
Is there a limit to the binary number system? MAX values?
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(4 votes)
Answer
- patel.madhav.a
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to patel.madhav.a's post “actually the max number f...”
  actually the max number for binary in one group is 255
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  (4 votes)