The expression "2^n" represents an exponential function where 2 is the base and n is the exponent. This means that 2 is multiplied by itself n times. For example, if n equals 3, then 2^3 equals 2 × 2 × 2, which equals 8. This function grows rapidly as n increases, making it useful in various fields such as computer science and mathematics. In computer science, "2^n" often describes the number of possible combinations or outcomes in scenarios like binary systems, where each bit can be either 0 or 1. For instance, with 3 bits, there are 2^3 or 8 possible combinations, illustrating how quickly possibilities expand with each additional bit.