25bit

25bit is a nonstandard term that can refer to several distinct concepts in computing and digital systems. There is no single, universally accepted definition, so its meaning depends on context.

In hardware and data encoding, 25-bit can describe a nonuniform data word or address width used in specialized equipment or protocols. A 25-bit address space would provide 2^25 possible locations, or 33,554,432 addresses, which is larger than a 16-bit space but smaller than a typical 32-bit space. Such widths are uncommon in modern mainstream systems but can appear in custom embedded devices, legacy hardware, or fieldbus implementations where a precise packing of address or control bits is required.

In imaging and video, 25-bit color is sometimes mentioned as a nonstandard color depth. True color commonly uses 24-bit color (8 bits per channel for red, green, and blue). Some nonstandard formats pack color information as 25 bits per pixel, for example by allocating 8-8-9 bits across the channels or by combining a color component with an alpha or metadata bit. These formats are vendor- or pipeline-specific and are not widely standardized.

Outside of data widths, 25bit can also arise as a brand name, project label, or internal designation in various products or initiatives. In such cases, the term is unrelated to a formal bit-depth or address width and reflects naming choices rather than a defined technical specification.

See also: bit depth, data word width, address space, color depth.