The ternary symmetric number system is a positional integer numeral system with a base of 3 and values of -1, 0, +1 (the symbols used are: +, 0, -). It is the most efficient among the integer positional systems.

The key feature of the ternary symmetric system is the inclusion of the sign of the number in the alphabet itself:

  • the sign of the number is clearly defined by the number itself;
  • ease of performing arithmetic operations;
  • rounding off numbers is easily achieved by simply discarding the less significant digits.
(See Ternary arithmetic)

The use of ternary code and three-valued logic in computers has an undeniable advantage over binary systems, which was demonstrated by the operation of the ternary computer Setun. The efficiency of ternary logic in programming languages was implemented in DSSP.

Ternary Base Converter

Ternary clock "Sinchron"

Ternary calendar