How many unique identifiers can be represented with an 8-bit system?

An 8-bit system can represent a total of (2^n) unique identifiers, where (n) is the number of bits. In this case, since (n) is 8, the calculation is (2^8).

This means:

[

2^8 = 256

]

This indicates that an 8-bit system can represent 256 different values or unique identifiers. The range of these identifiers typically goes from 0 to 255 when considering unsigned binary representations (where negative values are not included).

Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping how computers represent data. The limitation of the number of bits available directly affects the quantity of distinct items that can be stored or processed, which is an important foundation in computer science and data representation.