The Byte Converter

Byte Converter: Bytes to KB to MB to GB to TB (Calculator)

Published on: August 21, 2021
Last Updated: August 21, 2021

Byte Converter: Bytes to KB to MB to GB to TB (Calculator)

Published on: August 21, 2021
Last Updated: August 21, 2021
Byte Kilobyte Megabyte Gigabyte

1 Byte = 8 Bit
1 Kilobyte = 1024 Bytes
1 Megabyte = 1048576 Bytes
1 Gigabyte = 1073741824 Bytes


The smallest unit of digital storage is the bit, which is short for binary digit. It represents a single value of 0 or 1 in the binary number system that computers use to store and process data.

A group of 8 bits is called a byte, which is the standard unit of storage size used in computing. While historically the number of bits in a byte could vary depending on the computer hardware, nowadays it is almost always a synonym for 8 bits.

In computing, larger units of storage size are based on multiples of bytes. Traditionally, a kilobyte is defined as 1024 bytes, a megabyte as 1024 kilobytes, and so on, with each step being a power of two. This is because computers handle binary numbers with powers of two more efficiently.

However, in other fields, the International System of Units (SI) defines prefixes like kilo as representing 1000 of the base unit instead of 1024. To avoid confusion between these definitions for storage units, binary prefixes with unique symbols like kibibyte (KiB) for 1024 bytes were introduced.

This page uses the traditional binary definitions for storage units, so 1 KB here refers to 1024 bytes rather than 1000 bytes according to the SI system. If you want to convert storage amounts to SI units, you can use a SI prefix converter tool instead.

FAQs

What is a Byte?

A byte is the most prevalent unit of digital information used in modern computing. It corresponds to 8 bits and is capable of storing 256 different combinations.

Bytes are fundamental to digital computing, as computers cannot manipulate anything smaller than a byte, even though they work with bits.

Interestingly, every character in this answer is encoded by a byte, just like everything else on your device!

What is the difference between bit and byte?

The basic unit of digital information is a bit, which can store a single binary value of 0 or 1.

A bit can be thought of as an object with only two possible states: on and off, or true and false. By combining bits, you can create increasingly complex combinations of those states.

For example, two bits can store four possible combinations: 00, 01, 10, and 11. As the number of bits increases, the number of possible combinations grows exponentially.

With 8 bits, you can create 256 words, which is sufficient to store letters, numbers, and symbols, and scientists eventually adopted this as the standard for a byte.

In summary, the main difference between a bit and a byte is that a byte consists of 8 bits and is capable of storing more complex information.

Stay on top of the latest technology trends — delivered directly to your inbox, free!

Subscription Form Posts

Don't worry, we don't spam

Written by Bobby

Bobby Lawson is a seasoned technology writer with over a decade of experience in the industry. He has written extensively on topics such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics. His articles have been featured in several prominent publications, and he is known for his ability to distill complex technical concepts into easily digestible content.