What system do computers predominantly operate on?

Computers predominantly operate on the binary system, which is the fundamental language of computing. The binary system consists of only two digits: 0 and 1. These two states represent the off and on states of a silicon transistor, the building blocks of computer processor architecture.

This binary representation allows computers to perform complex calculations and process data efficiently. Each bit in a binary number can represent a power of two, facilitating representations of larger numbers through combinations of bits. For example, the binary number "101" represents the decimal value of 5, showing how binary encodes numerical information.

The other numeral systems, such as decimal (base 10), hexadecimal (base 16), and octal (base 8), are used in various computing contexts but ultimately rely on binary at their core. While programmers may use these systems for readability or in certain applications, the binary system remains the primary means by which computers operate and perform calculations.