thanks checkmate...i think i FINALLY understand whats going on!
So, let me make sure I understand you correctly... The ADC takes in an analog signal, which is represented as a voltage range. So for example, if I were using an analog thermometer, the temperature range its capable of detecting is directly proportional to its voltage range which is 0v-5v. The 8 bit ADC, in your example, would break that voltage range down into 256 different segments. So mathematically, each segment would be would be worth approximately .01953v. So in other words, each segment would have an incremental increase of .01953v. The ADC would take that voltage and convert it into a binary value that could be processed by the PIC. So in my programming, I would need to know what my desired temperature range would be for the project, calculate the corresponding "segments", or binary values, and program that information accordingly into my program....right?
Now when you say segments... you're talking binary right? Like 8 numbers that could potentially be 1 or 0 which would make 256 different numbers? I'm still trying to completely grasp the binary number system.