eightbit

Eightbit (often written eightbit or 8-bit) is primarily associated with a data width of eight bits in computing. An eight-bit unit forms the basic word size of many early microprocessors and memory systems, shaping how data is processed, stored, and addressed.

Eight-bit data paths, registers, and I/O constrained program complexity, yet they enabled widespread personal computing in the late 1970s and 1980s. Eight-bit processors such as the 6502, Z80, and 8080 gave rise to early home computers and video game consoles; eight-bit character encoding extends ASCII to cover additional symbols.

The 8-bit era left a lasting cultural imprint through retro computing, pixel art, and chiptune music. In contemporary media, “8-bit” denotes a nostalgic or stylistic choice rather than a description of current hardware.

The term eightbit is also used as a brand or project name by multiple unrelated entities in technology and media. It appears in software libraries, game studios, and maker-oriented hardware initiatives, among others, without referring to a single authoritative source.

See also: 8-bit; bit depth; retro computing; chiptune; 6502; Z80.