Octet (computing) Octet (computing) The octet is a unit of digital information in computing and telecommunications that consists of eight bits. The term is often used when the term byte might be ambiguous, as the byte has historically been used for storage units of a variety of sizes. The term "octad(e)" for eight bits is no longer common. A variable-length sequence of octets, as in Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1), is referred to as an octet string. The international standard IEC 60027-2, chapter 3.8.2, states that a byte is an octet of bits. However, the unit byte has historically been platform-dependent and
Mask (computing) Mask (computing) In computer science, a mask is data that is used for bitwise operations, particularly in a bit field. Using a mask, multiple bits in a byte, nibble, word etc. can be set either on, off or inverted from on to off (or vice versa) in a single bitwise operation. To turn certain bits on, the bitwise codice_2 operation can be used, following the principle that codice_3 and codice_4. Therefore, to make sure a bit is on, codice_2 can be used with a codice_1. To leave a bit unchanged, codice_2 is used with a codice_8. Example: Masking "on" the