Non-binary code can refer to two different things: a system of numerical notation that does not have a base of 2, or the use of coding practices that accommodate non-binary gender identities.

• Numerical notation: The decimal system is an example of a non-binary system because it does not have a base of 2.

• Coding practices: In computer programming, binary code is the system that powers computers, and it uses only two numbers: 0 and 1. However, when binary information about the world is stored in a computer, it is stored inside a database, and every piece of data has a type. Usually, the rules for that type are very strict, and data is stored as letters, numbers, or binary (0 or 1) values. A binary value is often referred to as a Boolean, named after a 19th-century guy named Charles Boole who invented a system of logic that only uses 1s and 0s. In order to store data in a database, variables of a certain type must be declared. The types are string (meaning text, as in a string of letters), number, or binary (aka Boolean). Boolean variables are used when a value is true or false.

Recently, there has been a push to create non-binary code that accommodates non-binary gender identities. For example, Spark, a New Zealand-based telco, has launched a campaign called "Beyond Binary Code" that aims to change the way businesses collect gender data. The campaign wants to help businesses understand if they need to collect gender data in the first place and to introduce a single piece of code that can be added to businesses websites to update website forms to become gender-inclusive.