Original: The name '' digit '' comes from the fact that the 10 digits ( ancient Latin digita meaning fingers ) of the hands correspond to the 10 symbols of the common base 10 number system , i.e. the decimal ( ancient Latin adjective dec. meaning ten ) digits .
Simplified: In the decimal system ( which is base 10 ) , each digit is how many of a certain power of 10 are needed to get the value .