binääriformaatti

A binääriformaatti refers to a type of computer file format that stores data in a binary representation. Unlike plain text files, which store characters as sequences of bytes representing those characters, binary files store data in a way that is directly interpretable by a computer's processor. This means that the data is not intended to be read or edited by humans using a standard text editor.

Binary formats are used for a wide variety of purposes because they are often more efficient in terms of storage space and processing speed compared to text-based formats. Examples include executable programs, compiled code, image files (like JPEG or PNG), audio files (like MP3), video files (like MP4), and compressed archives (like ZIP). Each of these formats has a specific structure that dictates how the binary data should be interpreted to reconstruct the original information.

The exact arrangement of bits and bytes in a binary file is defined by its specific format specification. This specification determines the meaning of different sequences of binary digits. For instance, in an executable file, certain byte sequences might indicate instructions for the CPU, while others might represent data or memory addresses. Understanding these specifications is crucial for developing software that can read, write, or manipulate these binary files. While not human-readable directly, binary formats are fundamental to the operation of modern computing systems.