What is the term used for moving the bits in a binary number left or right and filling gaps with 0s?

The term that describes the process of moving bits in a binary number to the left or right, while filling the gaps created with zeros, is known as a binary shift. In this operation, if you shift a binary number to the left, you effectively multiply the number by two for each position the bits are moved. Conversely, shifting to the right divides the number by two for each position moved, as long as we fill the vacant spaces with zeros.

Binary shifts are commonly used in programming and computer science for optimizing calculations, particularly in scenarios where multiplication or division by powers of two is needed. This operation is efficient because it directly alters the binary representation without the need for more complex arithmetic calculations.

In contrast, bit manipulation generally refers to working with individual bits within a binary number but does not specify shifting. Data rotation involves moving bits around in a circular fashion rather than simply shifting and filling gaps. Bit translation is not a standard term associated with binary operations. Thus, "binary shift" is the most accurate term for this particular process.