What is the smallest piece of information processed by a computer called?

The smallest piece of information processed by a computer is called a bit. A bit, which stands for "binary digit," can have a value of either 0 or 1, representing the most fundamental level of data in computing. All forms of data in computers, whether they are numbers, letters, or symbols, are ultimately represented in binary, which is composed of these bits.

Understanding bits is crucial because they serve as the building blocks for more complex data structures. For example, a byte, which consists of 8 bits, can represent 256 different values (from 0 to 255), enabling computers to represent a wide range of information, including characters in text.

Other terms like data refer to all information processed by computers, and output refers to the information that a computer produces after processing data. Conversely, a byte is a larger unit of information, formed from multiple bits, and is not the smallest piece of information in a computer's architecture. This context highlights why the identification of a bit as the smallest piece of information is accurate in the realm of computing.