Digital

Digital denotes information represented in discrete values, typically binary digits 0 and 1, rather than continuous signals. In computing, telecommunications, and media, digital systems encode, store, process, and transmit data as sequences of bits. The term contrasts with analog, where information is conveyed by continuous changes in a physical quantity. A bit is the basic unit of digital data; a byte consists of eight bits.

Digital data can be copied and transmitted with minimal loss, and it enables error detection, compression, encryption, and rapid search and indexing. Information is often encoded using standardized schemes such as character encodings (ASCII, Unicode), audio formats (MP3, AAC), image formats (JPEG, PNG), and video formats (MPEG-4). The digital representation allows exact reproduction and manipulation in software, as well as scalable distribution through networks and storage systems.

Digital technology emerged from developments in electronics, mathematics, and communications in the 20th century, culminating in widespread use of digital computers, digital networks, and digital media. The shift from analog to digital has underpinned modern computing, the Internet, mobile communications, and the information economy. Microprocessors, integrated circuits, and digital signal processing form the core of contemporary devices from smartphones to data centers.

In society, digital technologies enable new services and business models but also raise concerns about privacy, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and access disparities. The process of digitalization, or the conversion of information and processes into digital form, continues to transform many sectors, including education, government, finance, and entertainment.