Bits, Bytes, Kilobytes Gigabytes, Terabytes, Petabytes, Exabytes explained

Just like nosotros measure out day-to-twenty-four hour period things like time in seconds, mass in kilograms, acme in meters; reckoner memory and disc space are measured based on bytes. You would have probably run across terms like Kilobytes, Gigabytes, Terabytes, Petabytes, etc., specially when you are buying a new laptop or a phone or a new storage device like a hard disk. These terms are most normally used metrics of data storage chapters and are useful when yous want to buy a new digital device based on retentiveness.

Computer Memory sizes explained

That being said, take y'all ever visualized how much retentiveness space is available in the real for gigabytes, terabytes or a petabyte? These units of measurement are most frequently confusing at first glance and agreement these terminologies is quintessential for anyone who works with a computer.

Figurer Memory sizes explained

To empathize how exactly the computer memory and data storage capacity works, you need to be able beginning to empathize how much space a byte, kilobyte, gigabyte, terabyte, petabyte or an exabyte depict. To gauge the exact size, you need showtime to empathise how a computer works.

How big are byte, kilobyte, gigabyte, terabyte, petabyte & exabyte?

Computers utilize a binary number system for the bones representation of a number. Dissimilar the decimal system generally referred to as base ten number system that uses ten numerals 0, one, ii, … 9; the binary system has just two numerals 1 and 0. Although we don't actually directly bargain with i'southward and 0 'south, these 2 digitals play a significant role in how computers piece of work.

With these two digits, we can count upward to whatsoever numbers. A decimal number tin be converted to binary, and all of this math is washed by your computer. Computers are made upwards of electronic circuits and wires, and these electronics circuits bear all the information in a computer. All the information is stored and represented using electricity.

Bit

Like I said before, computers are made of signal wires these indicate tin can be either on or off. This on or off country of wire is chosen a Bit. This bit is the smallest piece of information the computer can shop. If you accept more wires, you get more 1'south and 0's with more bits. And more than $.25 tin can be used to represent a piece of complex information.

What is important hither, is that any number can be represented with ones and zeros or by a agglomeration of wires and transistors that are on or Off. The more the wires or transistors, the larger number you tin can shop. Suppose you want to store data similar text, images or sound, all these tin be represented with numbers. These numbers can then be stored as on or off electrical signals.

Bytes

A binary number can be either 0 or 1 which represents the switch every bit off or on respectively. This On or Off state of a switch is called a bit. A byte is a collection of bits, and a single byte is fabricated up of eight binary digits. Bits are grouped equally 8 binary digits because nigh of the memory chips have an electronic circuitry of 8 pathways with each pathway having either on state or off state. A byte can stand for 2^8 (256) distinct values, ie, .1 byte can correspond values from zero (00000000) to 255 (11111111).

Kilobytes

Bytes are grouped to represent a larger number. A Kilobyte contains 1024 bytes. More often than not, when we prefix kilo, it would suggest 1000 bytes. This holds truthful for the decimal number system that is based on factors of 10. Even so since computers use the binary system to store the data, we demand to use a binary factor of 2'due south to stand for bytes. That means a kilobyte contains 2^ten bytes that are 1024 bytes. Kilobyte measure is frequently used to depict CPU enshroud size and RAM chapters

Megabyte

Megabyte contains 1024 kilobytes. More often than not, when we prefix mega, it suggests a million bytes. This holds true for the decimal number system that is based on factors of ten. Since nosotros demand to represent in computer binary system, we need to utilize a binary gene of 2's to represent bytes. That means a Megabyte contains 1024 kilobytes.

Gigabytes

Gigabyte contains 1024 megabytes. By and large, when we prefix Giga, it suggests a billion bytes. This holds true for the decimal number arrangement that is based on factors of 10. Since we need to represent in computer binary system, nosotros need to use a binary factor of ii's to represent bytes. That means a Gigabyte really contains 1024 megabytes. To gauge how exactly information technology consumes memory, let us consider that you lot accept a 2 GB of the disk drive. With 2GB of capacity, you lot tin can shop effectually 500 music tracks.

Terabyte

Terabyte contains 1024 gigabytes. A prefix Tera suggests a trillion of bytes. In the binary arrangement, it would represent 1024 Gigabytes. 1TB is a lot of storage space and to put information technology in perspective; it can store effectually a one thousand thousand photos. Present most of the difficult drives come in the rage of 1 to 3 TB

Petabyte

A petabyte is near 1 quadrillion bytes. In calculator binary organization, a petabyte is 1024 terabytes of data. This size is quite hard to imagine practically. Nowadays most of the modern technology processors and servers store over petabytes of data. To put information technology in perspective, ane petabyte sized memory can shop over 10,000 hours of TV programming shows.