bit depth
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bit depth
[′bit ‚depth] (computer science)
In a digital file, the number of colors for an image; calculated as 2 to the power of the bit depth; for example, a bit depth of 8 supports up to 256 colors, and a bit depth of 24 supports up to 16 million colors.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
bit depth
The maximum numeric value in a coding system. The bit depth is the maximum number of bits in the system's storage element and represents either the total number of discrete items that can be represented or the largest magnitude. For example, the bit depth of an audio sample determines its dynamic range (see audio bit depth). The bit depth of a screen pixel determines the total number of colors that can be displayed (see color depth). See bit specifications and binary values.Copyright © 1981-2019 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.