--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A bit, the smallest unit of information…" description: "\"A bit, the smallest unit of information, the fundamental particle of information theory, is a choice, yes or no, on or off. It's a choice that you can ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/james-gleick-2623_bit_a-bit-the-smallest-unit-of-information-t_2907584.jpg" --- # A bit, the smallest unit of information, the fundamental… ![“A bit, the smallest unit of information, the fundamental particle of information theory, is a choice, yes or no, on or off. It's a choice that you can embody in electrical circuits, and it is thanks to that that we have all this ubiquitous computing.” quote by James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/james-gleick-2623_bit_a-bit-the-smallest-unit-of-information-t_2907584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/james-gleick-2623_bit_a-bit-the-smallest-unit-of-information-t_2907584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/james-gleick-2623_bit_a-bit-the-smallest-unit-of-information-t_2907584.jpg) > “A bit, the smallest unit of information, the fundamental particle of information theory, is a choice, yes or no, on or off. It's a choice that you can embody in electrical circuits, and it is thanks to that that we have all this ubiquitous computing.” [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A bit, the binary choice of on/off, underlies all digital computing and modern technology. **In simple terms:** Bits are simple yes/no choices that power computers. Key Takeaway Understand binary basics to grasp tech. Themes technology information fundamentals Mood educational analytical Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - coding basics - electronics - data storage Key Concepts binary logic digital systems Questions to Reflect On - How do you apply binary thinking? - What limits does binary impose on nuance? A Different Perspective Complex systems require more than binary decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Computing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computing/) ## Related quotes > [Information theory began as a bridge from mathematics to electrical engineering and from there to computing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/information-theory-began-as-a-bridge-from-mathematics-to-electrical/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [“Numbers are the smallest unit of meaning I know. 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I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [I'm sure people see me as quiet and someone who keeps things to himself a little bit. I might be quiet, but there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-donald/i-m-sure-people-see-me-as-quiet-and-someone-who-keeps-things-to/) [Luke Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-donald/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. 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