A computer architecture in which, within a given 16- or 32-bit word, bytes at lower addresses have lower significance (the word is stored "little-end-first"). The pdp-11 and vax families of computers and intel microprocessors and a lot of communications and networking hardware are little-endian.

The term is sometimes used to describe the ordering of units other than bytes; most often, bits within a byte.

Compare big-endian, middle-endian. See nuxi problem.

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