This approach of constructing new algebraic structures from the old ones is known as the Direct Sum method. It's quite general and, in particular, applies to Boolean Algebras. In other words, if B = {0, 1} is a Boolean algebra, we may consider a set of n-tuples Bⁿ = {(x₁, ..., x_n): x₁, ..., x_n boolean}. Logical operations are defined componentwise, as usual. For example (0, 1)^(1, 1) = (0^1, 1^1) = (1,0), etc.

In the case of Boolean direct sums, it's possible to employ a more cryptic notation writing a tuple one component at a time without parentheses and commas. For example, (1, 1, 0, 1) can be written as 1101; and (0, 1, 1, 0) as 110 if it's clear what's size tuples we are dealing with.

Now for the last step. The string 1101 may be looked at as a binary representation of the (decimal) number 13 for (1101)₂ = 13₁₀. Also 110₂ = 6₁₀ which means that 110 is the binary representation of the decimal number 6. Thus decimal (or actually numbers in any other system) numbers may be (and often are) looked at as representations of multidimensional Boolean Algebras. Every component of a tuple, when the latter is written as just described (without parentheses or commas), are commonly referred to as bits.

Operations of conjunction, disjunction, etc. are said to apply bitwise to regular integers. For example,

Bitwise operations are especially useful for storing and manipulating colors in computers. In paint programs or in programs that allow some kind of multiple object selection, you often draw what's known as a rubber band rectangle, by dragging the mouse. The shimmering rectangle which appears to follow the cursor, is actually drawn by a double application of XOR. This is based on the following nice property a^b^b = a.

Below is a simple puzzle that may help you to get familiar with the bitwise operations. We consider B⁴, a four-dimensional boolean space. In all, 16 tuples can be represented using four binary digits (bits). Thus we use numbers 0 through 15 to represent these tuples. The purpose of the game is to get all 16 squares filled with the right numbers which are written left to right and top to bottom beginning with 0 in the upper left box. The game starts by pressing the New Puzzle button. You may drag any square that has been assigned color and drop it on any other square. If the latter has also been assigned color, the bitwise operation that shows in the combobox will apply to the new assignment.