Units of computing data: Difference between revisions
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{{wikipedia|Units of information}} |
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Computing data is referred to in a variety of different units, most derived from the byte unit. |
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==Bits== |
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A '''bit''' is a state of either "on" or "off". It is the smallest possible unit of data on any computer. |
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==Bytes== |
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{{wikipedia|byte}} |
{{wikipedia|byte}} |
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The term '''byte''' represents an ordered collection of bits, with each bit representing a binary value of either 0 or 1. In most modern hardware, the defined size of a byte is eight bits, hence usually there are 2^8 (or 256) distinct values in one byte. |
The term '''byte''' represents an ordered collection of bits, with each bit representing a binary value of either 0 or 1. In most modern hardware, the defined size of a byte is eight bits, hence usually there are 2^8 (or 256) distinct values in one byte. |
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In the Pokémon games, the smallest groups of [[identifiers]] can only be read by the console in single 8-bit bytes. This explains for example, the reason why there are 105 glitch Pokémon in Generation I |
In the Pokémon games, the smallest groups of [[identifiers]] can only be read by the console in single 8-bit bytes. This explains, for example, the reason why there are 105 glitch Pokémon in Generation I: 2^8 is 256, and 256 - 151 = 105. |
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Bytes are also sometimes read as arrays of bits, in other words an ordered list of eight "ons" and "offs", for instance when storing badges obtained in {{RBY}}. |
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==Words== |
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The size of a '''word''' depends on the type of hardware. On 32-bit processors, such as that of the Game Boy Advance, the size of a word is four bytes. A unit of two bytes in this architecture is referred to as a '''halfword''', and a unit of eight a '''double word''' or '''dword'''. |
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[[Category:Terminology]] |
[[Category:Terminology]] |
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