binary

1. mathematics Base two. A number representation

consisting of zeros and ones used by practically all computers

because of its ease of implementation using digital

electronics and Boolean algebra.

2. file format Any file format for digital data encoded

as a sequence of bits but not consisting of a sequence of

printable characters (text). The term is often used for

executable machine code.

Of course all digital data, including characters, is actually

binary data (unless it uses some (rare) system with more than

two discrete levels) but the distinction between binary and

text is well established.

3. programming A description of an operator which takes

two arguments. See also unary, ternary.

(1998-07-29)