Abstract: The invention provides a new assay format for high throughput molecular binding studies at a single molecule level. The invention enables creation of binding event identifiers in a highly parallel way. Individual binding events occur between two agents of a binding pair, e.g., a protein-based binding pair or a binding pair comprising a protein and a chemical moiety. The binding event identifier created through the binding of the two binding agents is unique to that pair, and identification of the binding event identifier is indicative of the binding of these specific may be assessed through a readout that is digital in nature. The invention enables very large sets of thousands or more of different binding agents or potential binding agents to be assayed simultaneously, resolving millions or more of potential interactions, and distinguishing specific interactions from those that are less specific.