96bit

96bit refers to a data width of 96 bits, equivalent to 12 bytes. In computing, a 96-bit word size is uncommon among mainstream CPUs, which typically use 8, 16, 32, or 64-bit registers. The term is more often encountered in discussions of specialized hardware, experimental architectures, or software implementations that require multi-precision integer arithmetic.

Representation and arithmetic innovations for 96-bit values usually rely on combining smaller native words. In software, a 96-bit integer is typically stored as three 32-bit limbs or as a 12-byte byte array. Arithmetic operations are implemented as multi-precision routines, handling carries across limbs for addition and subtraction, and performing multi-limb multiplication and division. Endianness affects byte order when converting between the 96-bit form and external representations.

Uses and context for 96-bit data widths are niche. They may appear in specialized digital signal processing, cryptographic primitives, or experimental processors where a 96-bit operand size offers a balance between range and hardware constraints. In most general-purpose computing, 96-bit data is emulated in software or reserved for particular protocol elements such as nonces, counters, or identifiers that require 96 bits of space. When 96-bit operations are needed, performance is typically lower than with native 64-bit or 32-bit operations due to the absence of dedicated hardware support.

See also: 64-bit, 128-bit, multi-precision arithmetic, big integers.