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In computer architecture, a word is a basic unit of data that a computer’s processor can handle at a time. The word size, which is the number of bits in a word, is a crucial factor in determining the system’s performance. Common word sizes are 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit. A larger word size allows the processor to access more memory addresses and process larger data chunks in a single operation, potentially leading to faster execution. The word size also affects the size of registers within the CPU and the width of the data bus.