Referring to fingers or toes.
Representing data or physical quantities in numerical form.
When used to describe information (data), “digital” means based on a system of discrete steps, such as counting the fingers on one’s hand. Frequently, the term “digital” is associated with binary logic, where each bit of information can have one of two states (such as “on” or “off,” or “true” or “false”). This term can also describe most computers in use today, which process information in this manner. “Digital” is distinguished from “analog,” which treats information as based on a continuum, such as body temperature. In order to convert analog information to digital information, one must arbitrarily select samples (steps) along the continuum, and discard the rest of the information.
The characterization of a signal or measurement in terms of a series of numbers rather than in terms of some continuously varying value.