Bit

Bit (Binary Digit) is the smallest unit of information in a computer system. A bit can either have the value 1 or 0 (1= "on", 0= "off"). 8 bits correspond to one byte. Depending on the type of data, the same byte can be used as a text character, as a pixel in a graphic or as a pixel because of its numerical value be construed as a computer command. If letters of the message alphabet by binary characters are described, then corresponds to the one given to this binary character information content of one bit.

John Tukey of Princeton University coined the term "bit" in 1946.