16-bit
| N-bit processors | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-bit | 8-bit | 16-bit | 32-bit | 64-bit | 128-bit |
| N-bit applications | |||||
| 16-bit | 32-bit | 64-bit | |||
| N-bit data sizes | |||||
| 4-bit | 8-bit | 16-bit | 32-bit | 64-bit | 128-bit |
| nibble | byte octet | word | dword | qword | |
| These definitions are current in the x86 world. See linked articles for discussion of the meaning in other architectures. | |||||
In computer science, 16-bit is an adjective used to describe integers, memory addresses or other data units that are at most 16 bits (2 octets) wide, or to describe CPU and ALU architectures based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.
Prominent 16-bit processors include the Intel 8086, Motorola M68000, Intel 80286 and the WDC 65C816.
A 16-bit integer can store 216 (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.