trit
<unit> /trit/ (By analogy with "bit") One base-3 digit; the amount of
information conveyed by a selection among one of three equally likely outcomes.
Trits arise, for example, in the context of a flag that should actually be able
to assume *three* values - such as yes, no, or unknown. Trits are sometimes
jokingly called "3-state bits". A trit may be semi-seriously referred to as "a
bit and a half", although it is linearly equivalent to 1.5849625 bits (that is,
log2(3) bits).
[Jargon File]
(1995-05-11)
Nearby terms:
Trilogy « triple DES « tri state « trit »
Triton » Triton II » Triton VX
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