🔗 Learning Elixir: binaries and bitstrings

Binaries and bitstrings can be thought of as digital building blocks where each block can hold exactly the amount of information you specify, down to the individual bit. I like to think of a bitstring as a precise digital ruler where you can measure and cut data to exact specifications - <<3::4>> allocates exactly 4 bits for the number 3, while <<42>> uses the standard 8-bit byte. Unlike higher-level data structures that abstract away the underlying representation, binaries give you direct control over how data is stored and manipulated at the byte level, making them useful for file formats and data processing. While this low-level control requires more precision and understanding, it also provides capabilities for data processing and pattern matching on binary streams. In this article, we'll explore how binaries and bitstrings work, their pattern matching capabilities, and techniques that are valuable in Elixir development.