11011010

11011010 is a binary number. In the decimal system, this binary representation translates to 218. Binary numbers are a base-2 numeral system, meaning they only use two digits, 0 and 1, to represent numerical values. Each digit in a binary number corresponds to a power of 2, starting from the rightmost digit as 2^0, the next as 2^1, and so on. To convert 11011010 to decimal, we perform the following calculation: (1 * 2^7) + (1 * 2^6) + (0 * 2^5) + (1 * 2^4) + (1 * 2^3) + (0 * 2^2) + (1 * 2^1) + (0 * 2^0) = 128 + 64 + 0 + 16 + 8 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 218.

In computer science, binary numbers are fundamental as they form the basis of all digital data. Computers use transistors that can be in one of two states, representing 0 or 1, making binary the natural language of electronic circuits. The number 11011010, or 218 in decimal, could represent various pieces of information depending on the context. For instance, it might be part of a larger data set, a specific instruction for a processor, or a value used in an algorithm. In the context of computer memory, it could represent a single byte if it were part of an 8-bit sequence, where 8 binary digits constitute one byte. This particular sequence of bits has no inherent universal meaning without a defined protocol or encoding scheme.