What base is the binary number system?

The binary number system is defined as having a base of 2. This means that it uses only two digits: 0 and 1. Each digit in a binary number represents a power of 2, with the rightmost digit representing 2^0, the next representing 2^1, and so forth. This system is fundamental in computing and digital electronics because it aligns perfectly with the off/on states of binary logic, where '0' can represent an off state and '1' an on state.

In contrast, the other number systems mentioned—base 10 (decimal), base 8 (octal), and base 16 (hexadecimal)—utilize different sets of digits, with base 10 using ten digits (0 through 9), base 8 using eight digits (0 through 7), and base 16 using sixteen digits (0 through 9 and A through F). Each of these systems serves its purpose in various applications, but they do not align with the fundamental principle of the binary system, which is exclusively based on the two digits of 0 and 1. Therefore, the binary system's base is unequivocally 2.