Definition

1. Noun:
   • A system for representing numbers using a base of eight: "octal notation" is a mathematical notation system that uses only eight distinct symbols, typically the digits 0 through 7. Each digit's position represents a power of eight.

Usage

• General Use: "Octal notation" is used primarily in computing and digital systems. It provides a more compact representation of binary numbers, as three binary digits (bits) can be directly represented by a single octal digit.
• Context: It is often used in contexts where binary numbers are cumbersome to read or write, such as in certain low-level programming, file permission settings (e.g., on Unix/Linux systems), and debugging.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The file permissions were set using octal notation, with '755' representing read, write, and execute rights for the owner.
  • The binary number 111 101 010 is more concisely written as 752 in octal notation.
  • Early computer systems sometimes displayed memory addresses in octal notation.

Advanced Usage

• "to convert to/from octal notation": the process of changing a number's representation to or from the octal system.
  • You need to convert this decimal value to octal notation for the system call.
• "octal notation representation": a specific instance of a number written in the octal system.
  • Check the octal notation representation of the mask before applying it.

Variants and Related Words

• Octal (adj): relating to or using a base-eight number system.
  • The octal system is less common than hexadecimal in modern programming.
• Octal digit (n): any of the eight symbols (0-7) used in this notation.
• Octal number (n): a number expressed in the base-eight system.

Synonyms

• Base-eight notation: a descriptive synonym emphasizing the radix.
• Octonary notation: a less common, more formal term.

Related Phrases

• "in octal": a phrase indicating a number is expressed in the octal system.
  • The error code was displayed in octal.

Noun

1. any mathematical notation that uses 8 different characters (usually the digits 0 to 7)