Data representationRange of values represented using 8 bits

Processors handle binary numbers while humans use denary. Binary to denary conversion aids understanding of data representation. ASCII represents text. Bitmapped graphics are stored as binary. Vector graphics store objects as a list of attributes.

Part ofComputing ScienceComputer systems

Range of values represented using 8 bits

If using 8-bits to represent a binary value, the lowest number that can be represented is 0, and the highest is 255.

If all the values are off, the number is 0

1286432168421
(27)(26)(25)(24)(23)(22)(21)(20)
00000000
OFFOFFOFFOFFOFFOFFOFFOFF
128
64
32
16
8
4
2
1
(27)
(26)
(25)
(24)
(23)
(22)
(21)
(20)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF

If all of the values are on, the number is 255:

1286432168421
(27)(26)(25)(24)(23)(22)(21)(20)
11111111
ONONONONONONONON
128
64
32
16
8
4
2
1
(27)
(26)
(25)
(24)
(23)
(22)
(21)
(20)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON

128 + 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 255

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