Integer representation refers to the way whole numbers are expressed in a computer system. Computers use binary, a base-2 numeral system, to represent integers, where each digit is either a 0 or a 1. This allows computers to perform calculations and store data efficiently. There are various methods for representing integers, including signed integers and unsigned integers. Signed integers can represent both positive and negative numbers, while unsigned integers only represent non-negative values. Common formats include two's complement for signed integers, which simplifies arithmetic operations and helps avoid ambiguity in representing zero.