<p>A bit is, by definition, a <strong><em>bi</em></strong>nary digi<strong><em>t</em></strong>, and binary means base 2.</p>

<p>Base two is the most common model of computing, but it is not the only one.  There is also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_computer" rel="nofollow">analog computing</a>, which is not that interesting to computer science.  <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ternary_computer" rel="nofollow">Ternary logic</a>, on the other hand, does lead to some interesting theory.  In that case, however, each digit would be called a <strong><em>trit</em></strong>.</p>

<p>One advantage of representing numbers in base 3 is that it is more <a href="//math.stackexchange.com/q/446664/77144" rel="nofollow">efficient</a>, since 3 is closer to <em>e</em> ≈ 2.71828….  On the other hand, ternary logic is harder to implement reliably in electronic circuits, so binary computing receives nearly all of the attention.</p>

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2015-06-30T16:39:34.340Z
2015-06-30T16:39:34.340Z
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<p>I was thinking that why are their only two bits,0&amp;1. I know that they represent a particular switch in IC being opened or closed. But why not for switch neither completely open nor closed i.e. in intermediate stage relaying only a partial amount of voltage. Then we can have more than one bits, which can make coding much easier.</p>

<ar.hardware-architecture>
Why are there only two bits?
user247855
# Why are there only two bits?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-30)

I was thinking that why are their only two bits,0&1. I know that they represent a particular switch in IC being opened or closed. But why not for switch neither completely open nor closed i.e. in intermediate stage relaying only a partial amount of voltage. Then we can have more than one bits, which can make coding much easier.

**Tags:** ar.hardware-architecture

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-06-30. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

A bit is, by definition, a ***bi***nary digi***t***, and binary means base 2.

Base two is the most common model of computing, but it is not the only one. There is also [analog computing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_computer), which is not that interesting to computer science. [Ternary logic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ternary_computer), on the other hand, does lead to some interesting theory. In that case, however, each digit would be called a ***trit***.

One advantage of representing numbers in base 3 is that it is more [efficient](//math.stackexchange.com/q/446664/77144), since 3 is closer to *e* ≈ 2.71828…. On the other hand, ternary logic is harder to implement reliably in electronic circuits, so binary computing receives nearly all of the attention.


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