binary code computer

What Is Computer Binary Code?

Computer binary code is a system of representing information as a sequence of 0s and 1s, used to encode both data and instructions. In this system, "0" and "1" correspond to two stable states in electronic circuits, making it easy for hardware to recognize and execute commands.

The smallest unit in binary is called a "bit," which functions like a switch. Eight bits form a "byte," commonly used to store one letter or a small-range number. For example, the binary sequence "10110010" contains 8 bits, which equals one byte.

Why Do Computers Use Binary Code?

Computers use binary code because transistors in hardware can reliably distinguish between two states, providing strong resistance to interference and simplifying both manufacturing and amplification.

Binary also makes computation and storage structures more straightforward. Logic gates—essentially combinations of switches—naturally operate using binary, allowing for efficient implementation of arithmetic and logical operations within circuits. Even when errors occur during transmission, simple methods like parity bits can help detect problems.

How Does Binary Code Represent Numbers and Text?

When representing numbers, computer binary code assigns each bit as a power of two. For instance, decimal 13 is written as binary 1101 because 8 + 4 + 1 = 13.

Negative numbers are typically represented using "two's complement." This involves inverting each bit of the absolute value's binary representation and adding 1, creating a standardized way for circuits to perform addition and subtraction.

To represent text, "character encoding" maps symbols to numbers, which are then converted into binary. For example, the letter "A" is encoded as 65, or 01000001 in binary. Chinese characters often use UTF-8 encoding, where one character typically occupies 3 bytes; for instance, the character "链" has a UTF-8 encoding of e9 93 be (hexadecimal), which equals 24 bits in binary.

What Is the Relationship Between Binary Code and Hexadecimal?

Because raw binary code is lengthy and difficult for humans to read, hexadecimal (base-16) offers a more compact notation. Each hexadecimal character represents exactly four binary bits, making reading and writing much easier.

For example, 0x1f corresponds to binary 00011111. Conversely, grouping binary digits into sets of four and mapping each group to a value from 0 to f yields hexadecimal. Many blockchain addresses and transaction hashes are displayed as hexadecimal strings beginning with 0x—this is simply another way of representing the same underlying binary data.

How Is Computer Binary Code Used in Blockchain?

In blockchain systems, blocks, transactions, accounts, and more are all stored as sequences of bytes—essentially computer binary code. For readability, block explorers typically display this data in hexadecimal format.

Take smart contracts as an example: after deployment on-chain, contracts are converted into "bytecode," which is a series of binary instructions. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) reads these bytes, with each one corresponding to an opcode (for example, 0x60 means PUSH1). The EVM uses a word size of 256 bits to efficiently handle large integer calculations on-chain.

A Merkle tree organizes transactions by summarizing their “fingerprints.” Each transaction hash—a function that compresses arbitrary data into a fixed-length fingerprint—is 32 bytes of binary data. These are merged layer by layer to produce a 32-byte root hash stored in the block header.

On trading platforms such as Gate, deposit details display transaction hashes (TXIDs) or addresses starting with 0x. These are hexadecimal representations of the underlying binary data, making it easy for users to verify and copy information.

How Does Binary Code Appear in Crypto Signatures and Addresses?

Cryptographic signatures and addresses are all derived from computer binary code. A private key is simply a random 256-bit number—think of it as one unique combination among 256 switches. The corresponding public key is mathematically derived from the private key and used for signature verification.

On Ethereum, addresses are typically created by taking the last 20 bytes (160 bits) of the public key’s Keccak-256 hash, then displaying them as hexadecimal strings that start with 0x and contain 40 characters. EIP-55 introduced “mixed-case checksum” formatting to help detect manual entry errors.

On Bitcoin, common addresses that start with “1” or “3” use Base58Check encoding: after appending a checksum to the raw binary data, it’s displayed using 58 easily distinguished characters to reduce confusion. Bech32 addresses starting with “bc1” also include built-in checksums for greater error resistance.

Signatures themselves are combinations of binary numbers. For example, signatures based on the secp256k1 curve consist of two numbers—r and s—each typically matching the system’s 256-bit security parameter. These values are eventually encoded into human-readable strings for transmission.

What Are the Steps to Read Computer Binary Code?

Step 1: Recognize prefixes and encodings. A string beginning with “0x” usually means hexadecimal; “0b” denotes binary; Bitcoin addresses starting with “1” or “3” use Base58Check; those beginning with “bc1” use Bech32; Ethereum addresses typically start with “0x.”

Step 2: Convert between number bases. Each hexadecimal digit corresponds to four binary digits; group data in sets of four and map them to values from 0 to f or convert back into binary.

Step 3: Split fields by byte. For example, Ethereum addresses are 20 bytes long; common hashes like SHA-256 are 32 bytes. Segmenting by byte helps you match documentation and standards.

Step 4: Verify checksums. Both Base58Check and Bech32 have built-in checksums that can catch most input errors. For EIP-55 addresses, check if the uppercase/lowercase pattern matches the checksum rule.

Step 5: Analyze contract bytecode. When you encounter a long string of contract bytecode starting with “0x,” you can use open-source tools to map each byte to its opcode and verify instructions like PUSH, JUMP, SSTORE, etc., for correctness. On Gate, always check the chain name and address encoding before using a blockchain explorer for deeper analysis.

Common Misconceptions and Risks of Binary Code

A common misconception is treating hexadecimal as “encryption.” Hexadecimal is only a display format—anyone can convert it back to binary; it offers no privacy or security benefits.

Ignoring case-sensitive checksums carries risks. For Ethereum EIP-55 addresses, mixed-case formatting serves as validation; switching everything to lowercase removes this layer of protection and increases manual input errors.

Misunderstanding byte order can lead to incorrect data interpretation. Some systems use little-endian order internally but display values in big-endian order; reversing bytes without care can cause misreading of fields.

Confusing networks or encodings can lead to loss of funds. USDT exists on multiple networks; similar address prefixes may be incompatible. When depositing on Gate, always choose the network that matches your source chain and double-check address prefixes and formats line by line.

Private keys and mnemonic phrases are the ultimate secrets encoded in pure binary; any exposure may cause irreversible loss. Never take screenshots or upload them to the cloud; keep them offline when possible and use small test transactions plus multi-step confirmations to minimize operational risk.

Key Takeaways on Computer Binary Code

Computer binary code reduces all information to sequences of 0s and 1s—bits and bytes form the foundation of all data; hexadecimal serves as a human-friendly wrapper. Blockchain addresses, hashes, smart contract bytecode, and signatures are all different forms of these binary arrays. By learning to recognize prefixes, perform base conversions, segment by byte, and verify checksums, you can more safely validate deposit and transfer details. When handling funds, always prioritize network compatibility, encoding checks, and private key security—mastering both data interpretation and risk management is equally important.

FAQ

What do the 0s and 1s in binary physically represent?

In computer hardware, 0s and 1s represent two electrical states: 0 means no current or low voltage; 1 means current is present or voltage is high. Hardware can accurately distinguish between these two states—which is why computers use binary instead of decimal. All programs, data, and images are ultimately stored and processed as sequences of these 0s and 1s.

Why is a byte eight bits instead of another number?

A byte is the basic unit of computer storage, defined as eight bits. This convention comes from early hardware design experience—eight bits can represent 256 different values (2^8 = 256), enough to encode letters, numbers, and common symbols. It became an industry standard that continues today; all modern storage capacities are measured in bytes (e.g., 1KB = 1024 bytes).

Why do binary numbers look so long? Is there a way to simplify them?

Because binary uses only two digits (0 and 1), it takes many digits to represent values. The industry uses hexadecimal notation for simplification: every four binary digits correspond to one hexadecimal digit—shrinking the code’s length to one-fourth its original size. For example, binary 10110011 can be written as hexadecimal B3; this compact notation is common in code editors and blockchain addresses.

Do ordinary users need to learn manual binary conversion?

It’s not necessary to master manual conversions—but understanding the principle helps. You only need to know there’s a correspondence between binary and decimal systems, where weights increase from right to left. In real-world work, programming languages and tools perform conversions automatically—the key is developing “binary thinking”: understanding that all data fundamentally consists of combinations of 0s and 1s.

What happens if one bit in binary data is altered during transmission or storage?

Even a single-bit error can render data invalid or cause unexpected results—for example, flipping one bit in an amount could change its value entirely. This is why blockchain and financial systems use checksums, redundant backups, and cryptographic verification—to detect and correct errors using mathematical methods and ensure information integrity and security.