<unit> /trit/ (By analogy with "bit") One base-3 digit; the
amount of information conveyed by a selection among one of
three equally likely outcomes. Trits arise, for example, in
the context of a flag that should actually be able to assume
*three* values - such as yes, no, or unknown. Trits are
sometimes jokingly called "3-state bits". A trit may be
semi-seriously referred to as "a bit and a half", although it
is linearly equivalent to 1.5849625 bits (that is, log2(3)
bits).
[Jargon File]
(1995-05-11)
Nearby terms:
Trilogy « triple DES « tri state « trit » Triton » Triton II » Triton VX
