A Word is a unit of data used in computing and digital communication. While the definition of a word in computer architecture depends on the processor design (e.g., 32-bit or 64-bit), in the context of industrial communication and PLC programming, a "Word" typically refers to a fixed unit of 16 bits (2 bytes).
When controlling power supplies or measurement instruments via digital interfaces, data is often handled in the following units:
- Word: 16 bits (2 bytes). It can represent an unsigned integer value from 0 to 65,535.
- Double Word (DWord): 32 bits (4 bytes). Used for larger values or floating-point numbers.
Understanding the distinction between the CPU's native word size and the communication protocol's word size is essential for correct data transmission.