Which bit is referred to as 'low-order' or 'least-significant'?

The 'low-order' or 'least-significant' bit is the bit that is farthest to the right in a binary representation. In a binary number, the rightmost bit represents the smallest value, which is 2^0 or 1. Each bit to the left represents progressively higher powers of two. Therefore, the least significant bit is vital because it contributes the least to the overall value of the binary number.

In this context, when binary numbers are manipulated (such as when performing arithmetic operations or logical shifts), the least significant bit plays a crucial role in determining the overall numeric values, especially in systems where binary coding is utilized, like computing and data encoding. The distinction between significant and least significant bits is fundamental in various applications, including error detection, data compression, and cryptographic algorithms.