Binary may refer to:

Science and technology

Mathematics

Binary number In mathematics and digital electronics Digital electronics is a field of electronics The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour and effects of electrons The electr ...

, a representation of numbers using only two digits (0 and 1) *

Binary function In mathematics, a binary function (also called bivariate function, or function of two variables) is a function (mathematics), function that takes two inputs. Precisely stated, a function f is binary if there exists Set (mathematics), sets X, Y, Z ...

, a function that takes two arguments *

Binary operation In mathematics Mathematics (from Greek: ) includes the study of such topics as numbers (arithmetic and number theory), formulas and related structures (algebra), shapes and spaces in which they are contained (geometry), and quantities and ...

, a mathematical operation that takes two arguments *

Binary relation In mathematics, a binary relation associates elements of one set, called the ''domain'', with elements of another set, called the ''codomain''. A binary relation over Set (mathematics), sets and is a new set of ordered pairs consisting of elem ...

, a relation involving two elements *

Binary-coded decimal In computing and electronics, electronic systems, binary-coded decimal (BCD) is a class of Binary numeral system, binary encodings of decimal numbers where each numerical digit, digit is represented by a fixed number of bits, usually four or ei ...

, a method for encoding for decimal digits in binary sequences *

Finger binary Finger binary is a system for counting Counting is the process of determining the number A number is a mathematical object A mathematical object is an abstract concept arising in mathematics. In the usual language of mathematics, an ''object' ...

, a system for counting in binary numbers on the fingers of human hands

Computing

Binary code A binary code represents text Text may refer to: Written word * Text (literary theory), any object that can be read, including: **Religious text, a writing that a religious tradition considers to be sacred **Text, a verse or passage from script ...

, the digital representation of text and data *

Bit The bit is a basic unit of information in computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithm of an algorithm (Euclid's algo ...

, or binary digit, the basic unit of information in computers *

Binary file A binary file is a computer file that is not a text file. The term "binary file" is often used as a term meaning "non-text file". Many binary file formats contain parts that can be interpreted as text; for example, some Document file format, co ...

, composed of something other than human-readable text **

Executable In computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes and development of both computer hardware , hardware and ...

, a type of binary file that contains machine code for the computer to execute *

Binary image A binary image is one that consists of pixels that can have one of exactly two colors, usually black and white. Binary images are also called ''bi-level'' or ''two-level''. This means that each pixel is stored as a single bit—i.e., a 0 or 1. ...

, a digital image that has only two possible values for each pixel *

Binary prefix A binary prefix is a unit prefix A unit prefix is a specifier or mnemonic that is prepended to units of measurement to indicate multiples or fractions of the units. Units of various order of magnitude, sizes are commonly formed by the use of ...

, a prefix attached before a unit symbol to multiply it by a power of 2, e.g. Kbyte *

Binary tree In computer science Computer science deals with the theoretical foundations of information, algorithms and the architectures of its computation as well as practical techniques for their application. Computer science is the study of , ...

, a computer tree data structure in which each node has at most two children

Astronomy

Binary star A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common barycenter. Systems of two or more stars are called ''Star system#Hierarchical systems, multiple star systems''. These systems, especially when more distant, oft ...

, a star system with two stars in it *

Binary planet In astronomy, a double planet (also binary planet) is a binary system where both objects are planets, or planetary-mass objects, that share an orbital axis external to both planetary bodies. Binary asteroid A binary asteroid is a system of ...

, two planetary bodies of comparable mass orbiting each other *

Binary asteroid A binary asteroid is a system of two asteroids orbiting their common barycenter. The binary nature of 243 Ida was discovered when the Galileo (spacecraft), Galileo spacecraft flew by the asteroid in 1993. Since then List of minor-planet moons, nu ...

, two asteroids orbiting each other

Biology

Binary fission Binary may refer to: Science and technology Mathematics * Binary number In mathematics and digital electronics Digital electronics is a field of electronics The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineeri ...

, the splitting of a single-celled organism into two daughter cells

Chemistry

Binary compound In materials chemistry, a binary phase or binary compound is a chemical compound containing two different elements. Some binary phase compounds are molecular, e.g. carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). More typically binary phase refers to extended solids ...

, a chemical compound containing two different chemical elements **

Binary explosiveA binary explosive or two-component explosive is an explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by ...

, an explosive made of two components that become explosive when mixed **

Binary chemical weapon __NOTOC__ Binary chemical weapons or munitions are chemical weapons which contain the toxic agent in its active state as chemical precursors that are significantly less toxic than the agent. This improves the safety of storing, transporting, and ...

, containing two chemicals that when combined make a toxic agent

Arts and entertainment

Binary (comics) Carol Susan Jane Danvers is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, Danvers first appeared as an Officer (armed forces), officer in the United States ...

, a superheroine in the Marvel Universe * ''Binary'' (Doctor Who audio)

Music

Binary form Binary form is a musical form In music, form refers to the structure of a musical composition or performance. In his book, ''Worlds of Music'', Jeff Todd Titon suggests that a number of organizational elements may determine the formal structure ...

, a way of structuring a piece of music * ''Binary'' (Ani DiFranco album), 2017 * ''Binary'' (Kay Tse album), 2008 * "Binary" (song), a 2007 single by Assemblage 23

Novel

* ''Binary'' (novel), a 1972 novel by Michael Crichton (writing as John Lange) * Binary, an evil organization in the novel ''

InterWorld ''InterWorld'' is a fantasy and science fiction novel by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves. The book was published in 2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year, International Polar Year, and the International Year o ...

Other uses

Binary bettingBinary betting is a type of financial betting which displays the price of a Gambling, bet as an odds index from 0 to 100 where the bet settles at 100 if an event happens and 0 if it does not. The greater the likelihood of an event happening the high ...

, a bet on a proposition which is quoted as a spread bet *

Binary opposition A binary opposition (also binary system) is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary opposition is the system of language and/or thought by which two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one ...

, polar opposites, often ignoring the middle ground *

Binary option A binary option is a financial Finance is a term for the management, creation, and study of money and investments. Pamela Drake and Frank Fabozzi (2009)What Is Finance?/ref> Specifically, it deals with the questions of how an individual, comp ...

, a financial option in which the payoff is either some fixed monetary amount or nothing at all *

Binary ResearchBinary Research Ltd was a company founded in Auckland Auckland ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country, Auc ...

, a company founded in Auckland, New Zealand *

Gender binary Gender binary (also known as gender binarism, binarism, or ambiguously genderism) is the classification of gender into two distinct, opposite forms of masculine Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behavior ...

, the classification of sex and gender into two distinct and disconnected forms of masculine and feminine **

Non-binary gender Non-binary or genderqueer is an umbrella term for gender identities Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender.''Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression in Social Work Practice'', edited by Deana F. Morrow and Lori Messinger ...

, gender identities outside the gender binary