16-bit Color

16-bit color refers to a digital color system where each pixel's color is represented using 16 bits (or 2 bytes), allowing for 65,536 different color combinations. This format typically allocates bits to red, green, and blue color components—often 5 bits for red, 5 bits for blue, and 6 bits for green—since the human eye is more sensitive to green. This setup provides a good balance between image quality and file size, making it common in older graphics and gaming systems. While not as detailed as higher bit depths, 16-bit color offers vibrant visuals with more depth and nuance than earlier 8-bit systems.