Binary addition overflow

Binary addition overflow is when you add two binary numbers together that are longer than 8 bits. 2 things can occur:

• The CPU can store the bigger number:
  • A byte fits into a memory location. If longer binary numbers need to be calculated, they can be store in two or more memory locations next to each other
• The CPU can't store the bigger number:
  • The digits that overflow won't register, causing incorrect calculations. This is known as an overflow error, and can be dangerous if not spotted.