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It isn't necessary for us to understand computer terminology in order to use them, but some terms come up so frequently that it's worth knowing what they mean—to satisfy our own curiosity, if for no practical purpose.
The most important base in computer organization is base 2—also called binary. Unlike the normal decimal system we used based on our ten fingers, the binary system uses only 0 and 1. The second most important base is base 16 (or hexadecimal) which you'll also meet frequently in computer literature.
You probably know that a "bit" is a single binary digit and has a value of either 0 or 1, and that a byte is 8 bits. But did you know that 4 bits is called a nybble? Makes you hungry just thinking about it, doesn't it.
A couple of years ago I was watching the American crime series NCIS when Supergeek Tim McGee walked into a computer environment. In the background, on one of the walls, was this sign:
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