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)