trit

2 definitions found

trit - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  trit
  
     <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)
  

trit - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  trit
   /trit/, n.
  
     [by analogy with bit] One base-3 digit; the amount of information
     conveyed by a selection among one of three equally likely outcomes
     (see also bit). 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, log_2$(3)
     bits).