32-bit computing refers to a type of computer architecture that uses 32 bits to represent data and memory addresses. This means that the processor can handle 2^32 different values, which equals about 4.3 billion unique addresses. As a result, a 32-bit system can typically access up to 4 gigabytes of RAM, limiting the amount of memory available for applications. In 32-bit operating systems, software applications are designed to run within this memory limit. While they can perform many tasks efficiently, they may struggle with more demanding applications that require larger memory capacities. As technology has advanced, many systems have transitioned to 64-bit computing, which allows for greater memory access and improved performance.