Non-adjacent form

The non-adjacent form (NAF) of a number is a unique signed-digit representation, in which non-zero values cannot be adjacent. For example:

(0 1 1 1)₂ = 4 + 2 + 1 = 7

(1 0 −1 1)₂ = 8 − 2 + 1 = 7

(1 −1 1 1)₂ = 8 − 4 + 2 + 1 = 7

(1 0 0 −1)₂ = 8 − 1 = 7

All are valid signed-digit representations of 7, but only the final representation, (1 0 0 −1)₂, is in non-adjacent form.

The non-adjacent form is also known as "canonical signed digit" representation.