The computer can receive information, manipulate it, and store it. It can access stored information, read it, and send it out. All information is represented in the computer by combinations of ones and zeros, each one called a binary bit.
Text characters and numeric values are passed in and out of the computer as a sequence of bits in fixed-sized chunks called words. Hewlett-Packard Precision Architecture (HP-PA) design is based on a 32-bit (4-byte) word.
Registers are designed to hold one 32-bit word of data. Because they are fast but costly, registers typically hold only the data being currently processed and the most frequently used simple machine instructions.
The designers also define what types of data the system will recognize and how each type is to be formatted. This way, the system and the programmer can access and pass data in complete and meaningful blocks. The programmer often uses a high-level language compiler to translate between the system and user.
