Editing Bit bucket (section)

{{short description|Lost data in computing}}
{{Distinguish|text=the source code hosting service [[Bitbucket]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020|cs1-dates=y}}

[[File:Univac bit bucket.JPG|thumb|The [[Chad (paper)|chad]] receiver (or "bit bucket")<ref name="Cutler_1964"/> from a [[UNIVAC]] [[key punch]]]]

In [[computing]] [[jargon]], the '''bit bucket''' (or '''byte bucket'''<ref name="Intel_1978_MSC86-OI"/><ref name="DRI_1983_CPM86-PG"/>) is where lost [[computer]]ized data has gone, by any means; any [[data]] which does not end up where it is supposed to, being lost in [[transmission (telecom)|transmission]], a [[computer crash]], or the like, is said to have gone to the bit bucket – that mysterious place on a computer where lost data goes, as in:

{{Quote|text=The errant byte, having failed the parity test, is unceremoniously dumped into the bit bucket, the computer's wastepaper basket.|sign=Erik Sandberg-Diment|source=''New York Times'', 1985.<ref name="Sandberg_1985"/>}}

{{Quote|text=Millions of dollars in time and research data gone into the bit-bucket?|sign=W. Paul Blase|source=''The Washington Post'', 1990.<ref name="Blase_1990"/>}}