What are bits and bytes as noted in the nonfiction book, The New Way Things Work?

A bit is a binary number. Unlike decimal form numbers which use ten digits from 0 to 9, a binary number is made up of only two digits which stand for absence (0) or presence (1). Absence and presence can be represented by electrical charges turning off (absence) or on (presence). In this way, they can be sent electronically from one machine to another. Digital communication turns input into bits so it can be stored, processed or sent to other machines. Bits can then be converted back into a form we can use such as text or sound. Eight bits make up one byte.