BCD, or Binary Coded Decimal, is a way of representing decimal numbers in binary form. In BCD, each decimal digit is represented by a 4-bit binary number. For example, the decimal number 5 is represented as 0101 in BCD.BCD is often used in digital systems where decimal arithmetic is required, such as calculators and digital clocks. It allows for easy conversion between decimal and binary numbers, as each decimal digit is represented by a fixed number of bits.One advantage of BCD is its simplicity and ease of use in digital circuits. Each decimal digit can be manipulated independently, making it easier to perform arithmetic operations on decimal numbers. Additionally, BCD is more human-readable than pure binary, as each digit corresponds directly to a decimal number.However, BCD has some drawbacks compared to other binary representations of numbers. It is less space-efficient than pure binary, as it requires more bits to represent each decimal digit. This can lead to increased storage and processing requirements in digital systems.Despite its limitations, BCD remains a useful and widely-used representation of decimal numbers in digital systems. Its simplicity and ease of use make it well-suited for applications where decimal arithmetic is required.
