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What is a Byte and Bitwise Shift Operator

The Byte And Its Operations

by Ihor Gudzyk

C++ Developer

Sep, 2024・
4 min read

What is a byte?

This is a byte, a fundamental unit of digital information storage. A byte consists of 8 bits.

Each bit represents a binary digit, and numbers are commonly expressed in the binary system, a base-2 numeral system. The binary representation involves expressing a number as a sum of powers of 2.

For example, let's consider how some numbers are represented in the binary system and how to use calculations to convert them back to the base-10 system.

00000100

0+0+0+0+0+2²+0+0 = 4

00000101

0+0+0+0+0+2²+0+2⁰ = 5

00000111

0+0+0+0+0+2²+2¹+2⁰ = 7

This binary system allows for efficient representation of numbers, enabling computers to perform calculations and data storage effectively. Understanding this foundation is crucial for working with binary numbers in programming and digital systems.

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Bitwise shift

In many programming languages, there is a bitwise shift operator (<< or >>). You might not have used it often, but compilers will automatically optimize your code and use it where possible.

As the name suggests it shifts the bits to the left or to the right.

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In this context, a single left bit shift effectively multiplies the value by 2;
Conversely, when we execute a single right bit shift it effectively divides the value by 2.

Think of the right and left shift operations (>> and << by n positions) as equivalent to division or multiplication by 2^n.

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FAQs

Q: How many bits are in a byte?
A: A byte consists of 8 bits.

Q: Why are bitwise operations important?
A: Bitwise operations are important for optimizing performance, especially when dealing with hardware or low-level programming tasks.

Q: Can you multiply a number using a bitwise shift?
A: Yes, shifting a number to the left (<<) multiplies it by 2 for each shift.

Q: What is the difference between a bit and a byte?
A: A bit is the smallest unit of data in computing, representing either a 0 or 1, while a byte consists of 8 bits.

Q: How do you represent the number 10 in binary?
A: The number 10 in binary is represented as 00001010.

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