A computer that operates on discrete quantities (compare analog
computer). All computation is done within a finite number system and with
limited precision, associated with the number of digits in the discrete numbers.
The numerical information is most often represented by the use of two-state
electrical phenomena (on/off, high voltage/low voltage, current/no current,
etc.) to indicate whether the value of a binary variable is a "zero" or a "one".
Usually there is automatic control or sequencing (through a
program) of operations so that they can be carried through to completion without intervention.
