How is 0 and 1 special?

0 and 1 are special numbers in mathematics because they serve as fundamental building blocks for various numerical systems. Zero represents the concept of nothingness and acts as the additive identity, meaning any number plus zero remains unchanged. On the other hand, one is the multiplicative identity, as any number multiplied by one remains the same. Together, they form the basis for binary systems, which are crucial in computing and digital technology.