Computers & Binary | Computer for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Why Do Computers Use Binary?

• All data must be converted to binary for computer processing: Computers operate using binary data exclusively, represented by 0s (off) and 1s (on). This system allows electronic devices to utilize transistors that are switchable between on and off states.
• Understanding binary: Binary, comprised of bits (0s and 1s), is the fundamental language of computers. Each bit signifies the smallest unit of data, essential for storing and processing information.
• Data storage and processing: Computers rely on binary for all operations, from basic calculations to complex tasks involving text, images, and sound. Bits can be grouped to form larger data units like bytes and kilobytes, enabling efficient data management.
• Electronic components: Through binary encoding, computers can effectively process data using electronic transistors. These transistors, which can be in an on or off state, are miniaturized into microchips, housing millions to billions of them for intricate computations.
• Conversion necessity: Before computers can interpret any form of data, be it text, images, or sound, it must be translated into binary. This conversion assigns a unique binary code to each element—character, pixel, or sample—facilitating computer processing through logic gates and storage in registers.

Logic Gates

• Logic gates are electronic components that conduct logical operations on binary information.
• They are utilized to manipulate binary data by utilizing Boolean logic on the input signals, resulting in a binary output.
• Registers, found in a computer's CPU, serve as temporary storage for binary data during processing tasks.
• Registers are crucial for swiftly accessing data, like program variables or information managed by logic gates.
• The capacity of a register determines the maximum binary data it can retain at any one time.