Base 5, also known as quinary, is a numeral system that uses five digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. In this system, each digit's position represents a power of 5, similar to how base 10 uses powers of 10. For example, the number 243 in base 5 represents 2 \times 5^2 + 4 \times 5^1 + 3 \times 5^0. Base 5 is less commonly used than base 10, but it can be found in certain mathematical contexts and computer science applications. It is also interesting to note that some cultures have historically used base 5 for counting, often based on the number of fingers on one hand.