: Why are computers limited to 0s and 1s? Why can’t we use numbers like 2s and 3s for more Efficiency?

Question

: Why are computers limited to 0s and 1s? Why can’t we use numbers like 2s and 3s for more Efficiency?

In: 17

Answer 1

We kind of can, and do.

Initially 0s and 1s are used because we can say “0 is when voltage is between 0 and 2V, 1 is when voltage is between 3 and 5V, anything inbetween is undefined and should be ignored”.

NAND cells used for SSDs are now using more levels, so we can store more data in the same number of cells.

The S in SLC means single. It can do 0 and 1.

The M in MLC means multiple, but by convention it uses dual. It can store two bits, so 4 values.

Then there is TLC (triple) and QLC(quad), that can store 3 bits (8 values), and 4 bits (16 values).