.TH bit "" "" Definition
.PC
.PP
.B bit
is an abbreviation for \*(QLbinary digit\*(QR.
It is the basic unit of data processing.
A bit can have a value of either zero or one.
Bits can be concatenated
to form bytes.
.PP
A bit can be used either as a placeholder to construct a
number with an absolute value, or as a flag whose value has a
particular meaning under specially defined circumstances.
In the former use, a string of bits
builds an integer.
In the latter use, a string of
bits forms a
.BR map ,
in which each bit has a meaning other than its numeric value.
.SH "See Also"
.Xr "bit map," bit_map
.Xr byte, byte
.Xr nybble, nybble
.Xr "Programming COHERENT," programmi
.br
\*(AS, \(sc1.6
