Definition: Binary opposition (binary contrast) is a system that includes two states or concepts that are defined as opposite to each other, so on the one hand it is not possible to be in both at the same time, and on the other hand it is impossible not to be in one of them. Binary opposition is a key concept in structuralism - a theory according to which each phenomenon or object constitutes a unit within a system or an overall structure and can only be understood through their relations with the other parts of the system. The most basic method of distinguishing between units in a structure is through binary oppositions - the meaning of each unit can be understood only against the background of the other unit from which it differs, and vice versa. The definition of the two units is conditional on their opposition, when there is a clear demarcation between them.
The binary oppositions characterize and are used to explain phenomena in the fields of nature and science. The basic binary opposition in the world of programming and computing refers to the "0" or "1" modes of the basic hardware units, the transitions between which form the various computer programs. Other binary oppositions are the magnetic poles, the directions of gravity (attraction-repulsion), symmetry - asymmetry and more. Binary oppositions applied in the fields of human culture tend to be less unambiguous, but still contribute to the explanation of human phenomena.
see also:
Binary oppositions in linguistics
Binary Oppositions, Poststructuralism and Deconstruction
Binary Oppositions in Anthropology