How come the number 255 is the maximum number used in computers & probably even more

Question

How come the number 255 is the maximum number used in computers & probably even more

In: 2

Answer 1

A byte is 8 bits. A bit is a switch with two positions, on and off. Each switch doubles the number of ways you could set up the switches in the byte, so 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 256 different combinations.

The way we like to number those combinations isn’t 1-256 though, it’s 0-255. 0 is just more useful than 256.