What notation system do computers use to process information?

Computers utilize binary notation for processing information because their internal architecture is based on two states, often represented as 0 and 1. This binary system aligns with how electronic circuits operate; transistors in a computer can be in one of two states: on (1) or off (0). All forms of data, including numbers, letters, and instructions, are ultimately represented in binary format within the computer's hardware.

While decimal notation is commonly used by humans and employs ten digits (0-9), computers do not process data in this format. Hexadecimal notation, though useful for representing binary data in a more compact form (using digits 0-9 and letters A-F), is still fundamentally based on binary for actual data processing. Similarly, octal notation is less common and employs a base-8 system but still does not work at the fundamental level of how computers operate. Thus, binary notation is the essential basis for all computing processes.