Number of Bits
TLDR: The number of bits refers to the quantity of binary digits used to represent data in computing systems. This measure directly determines the range, precision, and storage capacity of a data type (data type range, data type precision, data type storage capacity) or system. For instance, a 32-bit integer can represent values from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 in signed arithmetic, while a 64-bit system allows for significantly larger ranges and greater precision. The number of bits is a fundamental concept in defining the limits and capabilities of hardware and software.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit
In floating-point systems adhering to the IEEE 754 standard, the number of bits is divided among the sign, exponent, and significand (mantissa). For example, single-precision (32-bit) and double-precision (64-bit) formats allocate bits differently to achieve varying levels of precision and number range. The number of bits in the exponent determines the range of representable values, while the bits in the significand influence the number precision. Larger bit counts provide higher precision numbers but require more memory and computational resources.
https://standards.ieee.org/standard/754-2019.html
The number of bits also plays a crucial role in modern computing architectures, influencing factors like addressing and performance. A 32-bit architecture limits memory addressing to 4 GB, while a 64-bit architecture can address over 18 exabytes of memory. In programming, languages like Java provide Java data types with fixed number of bits, such as `Java int` (32 bits) and `Java long` (64 bits), offering flexibility for handling varying data sizes. Understanding the number of bits is essential for developers to optimize performance and ensure the correctness of their applications.
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/nutsandbolts/datatypes.html