Re: The integral type 'byte' (was Re: Suggested method for returning a string from a C program?)

On 26.03.2025 12:47, David Brown wrote:

 
The word "bit", on the other hand, is often said to come from "binary
digit" or "binary information digit".

Yes, "binary digit".

Personally, I think it is a lot
simpler - it's the smallest usable bit of information you can have.
Saying it is a "binary digit" just makes it clearer how big a bit you have.

I think we should note that bit is used in two ways; it's first of all
the _unit_ of information in information theory, and then it's used as
a sort of "tangible" entity. And here (DE) we have different writings,
entities are written in capitals (with a plural where necessary), like
"The registers comprise either 1 Bit or 8 Bits.", and the unit written
in singular and lowercase "The data rate is 8 bit per second."[*]

Jnais

[*] Note: that's just a lexical transcription to English, not meant as
if that would be correct English (it isn't).