In a 16-bit signed integer, what does the right-most bit signify?

In a 16-bit signed integer, the right-most bit is known as the sign bit. This bit plays a crucial role in determining whether the integer is positive or negative. When the sign bit is set to 0, it indicates that the number is positive, while a sign bit of 1 indicates that the number is negative. This is based on the two's complement representation, which is the most common way to encode signed integers in binary systems.

For example, if you have a 16-bit signed integer represented as 0000 0000 0000 0001, the left-most bit is 0, indicating a positive number (in this case, the integer 1). Conversely, if the binary representation is 1111 1111 1111 1110, the sign bit is 1, indicating a negative number (specifically, -2 in this case). Understanding the role of the sign bit is essential for interpreting signed integers correctly and performing arithmetic operations involving both positive and negative numbers.