What Is Bitstream?
Bitstream is a type of digital data that consists of binary code, or bits. It is used to store and transmit information in the form of text, images, audio, video and other types of media. Bitstreams are typically stored on computers as files with specific file extensions such as .jpg for image files or .mp3 for music files. They can also be transmitted over networks like the Internet using protocols such as HTTP or FTP.
Bitstream technology has been around since the early days of computing when it was first used to send messages between two computers connected by telephone lines. Today bitstreams are still widely used but have become much more sophisticated due to advances in computer hardware and software technologies. For example, streaming media services like Netflix use bitstreams to deliver movies and TV shows directly to users’ devices without having them download large files first. Similarly, online gaming platforms rely heavily on bitstream technology for real-time communication between players located all over the world.
FPGA Bitstream
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) bitstream is a binary file that contains the configuration data for an FPGA. It is used to program the FPGA with its desired functionality, such as logic gates and other digital components. The bitstream consists of two parts: the header and the body. The header contains information about the type of device being programmed, while the body contains instructions on how to configure each component in order to achieve a specific function or set of functions.
The contents of an FPGA bitstream are highly dependent on both hardware design and software development tools used by engineers during their design process. In addition, different vendors may use different formats for their bitstreams which can make it difficult to transfer designs between them without additional conversion steps. As technology advances, more sophisticated methods have been developed for creating efficient and reliable FPGA configurations from high-level descriptions written in languages like Verilog or VHDL.