Digital computer

A computer in which operations are based on two or more discrete states. Binary digital computers are based on two states, logical "on" and "off," represented by two voltage levels, arrangements of which are used to represent all types of information—numbers, letters, graphics symbols, and program instructions.

Within such a computer, the states of various circuit components change continuously to move, operate on, and save this information, because only two digits, also called bits, are involved, the binary system is used in computers.

Any binary number can be represented by the positions of Magnetized dots on a tape or disk. Logic circuits in computers use binary numbers; the conversion of decimal numbers to binary numbers for processing, and of binary numbers to decimal numbers for the readout, is done electronically.