MSB | Hardware Secrets

Most Significant Bit

In a binary word, it is the first bit, i.e. the first one located on the left hand side. Consider a byte on the following format:

b7 b6 b5 b4 b3 b2 b1 b0

E.g.: (10101110)

The most significant bit (MSB) will be b7 (the “1” bit on the far left on the example).

Originally at http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/dictionary/term/248

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