Binary representation, where all numbers are expressed using only two digits (0 and 1), forms the foundation of modern digital systems. For example, the decimal number 5 is represented as 101 in binary. The outcome of any computation performed within this system is, therefore, a sequence of zeros and ones, reflecting the underlying binary logic. This binary output is fundamental for digital circuits, memory storage, and data transmission.
The significance of this system stems from its direct compatibility with electronic transistors, which can readily represent two states (on/off) corresponding to 1 and 0. This simplicity allows for highly efficient and reliable digital systems. From the earliest days of computing, binary logic has proven essential, paving the way for the complex and powerful devices used today. Its direct mapping to Boolean algebra further facilitates logical operations and complex computations.