(computing) The architecture of a computer system or program in terms of how many bits (binary digits) compose the basic values it can evaluate.
Used in a Sentence
bitness
Definition, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for bitness.
Editorial note
You can't upgrade to a different bitness, because that might break apps or drivers that depend on the old bitness.
Examples16
Definitions1
Parts of speech1
Quick take
(computing) The architecture of a computer system or program in terms of how many bits (binary digits) compose the basic values it can evaluate.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of bitness gathered in one view.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for bitness.
noun
(computing) The architecture of a computer system or program in terms of how many bits (binary digits) compose the basic values it can evaluate.
Example sentences
You can't upgrade to a different bitness, because that might break apps or drivers that depend on the old bitness.
With regards to bitness, computers weren't always strictly power-of-2 based (quick example: the PDP-8 was a 12-bit machine).
This is transparent to the installers themselves as Windows directs the installation appropriately based on bitness.
The configure script didn't even think of handling bitness differences between host and target...
This has nothing to do with 64-bitness, it could just as easily have been applied to a 32-bit iteration of the ARM ISA.
SGI's secret sauce was their 64-bitness and their 3D hardware.
The amount of misinformation on the 5S's 64-bitness is hilarious.
The x32 ABI was borne out of people noticing that the x86-64 architecture's improvements weren't all about 64-bitness, and that some of them were relevant to 32-bit programs too.
It already had 32-bitness, virtual memory, TCP/IP...
If you're talking enterprise use, sure, some app servers might need more than a few GB, but that's a memory problem, not strictly a bitness problem.
If the update package is compatible with the SKU of other machines in your network (language, version, bitness etc.) then they might pull it from your machine instead of the internet.
I hadn't thought about that, but the 64-bitness is probably why I'm tearing through my 256mb slice so quickly on tasks that shouldn't really take up that much space.
Quote examples
Other examples of CPU's that I'm aware of with a different "bitness"/databus width are the 68008 and 8808, but in both cases the data bus is smaller than the "bitness".
My favorite comment in the thread is from John Ludlow who explained why you would want to package a 32 bit program with a 16 bit installer: "The installer has to be the lowest common denominator in terms of bitness.
I'm pretty sure after the iPhone 5s announcement, when he was floored by the 64-bitness of it, I posted something along the lines of "it would be really clever for a mobile company to hire Anand".
Proper noun examples
Bitness is a surprisingly subtle thing to define, but I think an 8-bit-wide GPR is enough for this one to be called 8-bit.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use bitness in a sentence?
You can't upgrade to a different bitness, because that might break apps or drivers that depend on the old bitness.
What does bitness mean?
(computing) The architecture of a computer system or program in terms of how many bits (binary digits) compose the basic values it can evaluate.
What part of speech is bitness?
bitness is commonly used as noun.