A 32-bit system refers to a computer architecture that uses 32 bits to represent data and memory addresses. This means it can handle a maximum of 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM, as 2^32 equals 4,294,967,296 bytes. Most modern operating systems and applications are designed to work with 32-bit systems, although many have transitioned to 64-bit systems for improved performance and memory capacity. In a 32-bit system, the processor can process 32 bits of data at a time, which affects the speed and efficiency of computing tasks. Common examples of 32-bit operating systems include older versions of Windows, Linux, and macOS. While still in use, 32-bit systems are becoming less common as technology advances.