Computers store every value as bits, each a 0 or a 1, and a byte is 8 bits. In binary, each position has a place value: 1, 2, 4, 8 and so on, doubling to the left. The same bits can stand for a number, a letter or a color, depending on the context. A fixed number of bits limits the range of numbers, which can cause overflow, and smooth analog data is stored by sampling it at regular intervals.