binary
1. {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. Any file format for {digital} {data} encoded
as a sequence of {bit}s 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.
A description of an {operator} which takes two {arguments}. See also {unary}, {ternary}.
(1998-07-29)