BIT (= BInary digiT)
Charles François (2004). BIT (= BInary digiT), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 306.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 306 ▶ |
| Object type | Discipline oriented |
- “The unit of selective information-content… which determines a single choice between equiprobable alternatives” (D. McKAY, 1969, p.172).
This unit of quantity of information is also sometimes called the HARTLEY, as this author studied transmission of information as early as 1928.
A bit represents a single yes/no decision and is the basic unit in digital computers.
The bit capacity of a channel is the number of bits transmissible per second (p.175).