16-bit

In computer science, 16-bit is an adjective used to describe integers that are at most 16 bits (2 octets) wide, or to describe CPU architectures based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.

The term "16-bit" can be used to describe the size of any of the following:

• A data unit.
  • A 4-bit unit (a hexadecimal digit) is called a nibble or nybble.
  • An 8-bit unit is called an octet (or a byte).
• A CPU's registers used to hold memory addresses and other data, as well as the ALU that operates on those registers.
  • Data units of that size are called words.
  • A 16-bit CPU can process 16 bits at a time.
• Memory addresses.
• Data transferred on each read or write of the memory.

Prominent 16-bit processors include the Intel 8086, Intel 80286, the WDC 65C816 used in the Super Nintendo, and the Motorola M68000.

A 16-bit integer can store <math>2^{16}<math> (or 65536) unique values. In an unsigned representation, these values are the integers between 0 and 65535; using two's complement, possible values range from -32768 to 32767.

See also

• 8-bit
• 16-bit application
• 16-bit era
• 32-bit
• 32-bit application
• 64-bit