16-bit - Definition and Overview

In computer science, 16-bit is an adjective used to describe integers that are at most two bytes wide, or to describe CPU architectures based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.

Prominent 16-bit processors include the Intel 8086, Intel 80286, the WDC 65C816 used in the Super Nintendo, and the Motorola M68000.

A 16-bit integer can store <math>2^{16}<math> (or 65536) unique values. In an unsigned representation, these values are the integers between 0 and 65535; using two's complement, possible values range from -32768 to 32767.

See also

• 8-bit
• 16-bit application
• 16-bit era
• 32-bit
• 32-bit application
• 64-bit