Understanding 8-Digit Binary Numbers: A Beginner's Guide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding 8-digit binary numbers, specifically focusing on how bytes are distinguished in computing, both at the hardware and software levels. Participants also explore the nature of binary signals and their representation in electrical terms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how an 8-digit binary number is distinguished from others, prompting clarification requests from others.
  • Another participant suggests that the distinction of bytes in hardware is based on their fixed length of 8 bits, implying that the system recognizes byte boundaries based on bit position.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about the role of software in recognizing bits versus bytes, suggesting that software typically operates on bytes rather than individual bits.
  • There is a shift in focus to the nature of bits, with a participant questioning whether bits represent whether a signal passes through a gate, and expressing confusion about the behavior of a NOT gate.
  • Further exploration is made into the representation of binary signals in terms of electrical pulses, with a participant questioning the implications of a binary sequence on signal transmission.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the initial question regarding byte distinction, and there is ongoing confusion and debate about the nature of binary signals and their representation in computing.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of bits and bytes, as well as the specifics of how signals are transmitted and interpreted in hardware and software contexts.

luckis11
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How does it (it=what?) distinguish each 8-digit (10100100) from the previous and the next?
 
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:confused:

I'm sorry, I don't understand your question.
 
Nor do I. Can you restate the question more clearly?
 
I think the question is:

How does the computer know when one byte ends and the next begins?
 
Yes, a byte.

I also asked what exactly distinguishes them, now I see that this means two questions?: What distinguishes the bytes at software and what at hardware.
 
I believe the only thing that distinguishes bytes in hardware is the fact that they are all 8 bits long. So the hard drive or RAM knows that if this is the 64th bit that it is the first bit in its byte.

I can't think of a situation where software would really see bits, only bytes. However, if it did it would do it the same way. Just assume that every byte begins with a multiple of 8 bit.
 
PLEASE forget my previous question. I want to grasp this:

The bits 0 and 1 are the whether signal passes from a gate or not, correct? It seems not correct: The gate NOT converts a signal "1" to a signal "0", whereas a signal always passes from that gate?

Is it (ONLY OR ALSO?) that the e.g. 101 means that at a wire (just a wire, no gates in between) there is an electrical pulse of (wavefront- no wavefront-wavefront)?
 
Last edited:
luckis11 said:
PLEASE forget my previous question. I want to grasp this:

The bits 0 and 1 are what?

The whether signal passes from a gate or not? This seems wrong because the gate NOT converts a signal "1" to a signal "0", whereas a signal always passes from that gate?

Is it that the e.g. 101 means that at a wire (just a wire, no gates in between) there is an electrical pulse of (wavefront- no wavefront-wavefront)? This also seems wrong because if it was so, the signal that arrives from the one wire to the gate should be 111111111..., and the other one should be 000000000...otherwise how could it be that...

? A link that explains this?
 

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