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| Why are there 1024 bytes in a kilobyte? |
Why are there 1024 bytes in a kilobyte?
In KB, "kilo" means 1000. In most cases, this approximation is fine for determining how much space a file takes up or how much disk space you have. The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information.
But there are really 1024 bytes in a kilobyte. The reason for this is because computers are based on the binary system. That means hard drives and memory are measured in powers of 2. In this context the unit symbol K or KB has been common.
For example,
2^0 = 1
2^1 = 2
2^2 = 4
2^3 = 8
2^4 = 16
2^5 = 32
2^6 = 64
2^7 = 128
2^8 = 256
2^9 = 512
2^10 = 1024
Notice how 2^10 is 1024. Therefore, 2^10, or 1024 bytes compose one kilobyte. Furthermore, 1024 kilobytes compose one megabyte, and 1024 megabytes compose one gigabyte. For most practical purposes, you can estimate 1024 to 1000. But correcting someone who says there are 1000 bytes in a kilobyte is a great way to impress your friends.
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The International System of Units (SI) defines the prefix kilo as 1000; therefore one kilobyte is 1000 bytes. The unit symbol for the kilobyte is kB. In some fields of information technology kilobyte has traditionally also been used to denote 1024 bytes, which arises from binary exponentiation common to digital circuitry.
>>Tip: When the "b" is lowercase (Kb), this refers to a kilobit.
Multiple of bytes :
| Bit | = A bit is value of either 1 or 0 (ON/OFF). | ||
| Nibble | = 4 bits | ||
| Bytes | = 8 bits | = One word means 'a', 'b' etc. | |
| 1 KB (Kilobyte) | = 1024 Bytes | = 2^10 Bytes. | |
| 1 MB (Megabyte) | = 1024 KB | = 1048576 Bytes. | |
| 1 GB (Gigabyte) | = 1024 MB | = 1048576 KB | = 2^30 Bytes |
| 1 TB (Terabyte) | = 1024 GB | = 1048576 MB | = 2^40 Bytes |
| 1 PB (Petabyte) | = 1024 TB | = 1048576 GB | = 2^50 Bytes |
| 1 EB (Exabyte) | = 1024 PB | = 1048576 TB | = 2^60 Bytes |
| 1 ZB (Zettabyte) | = 1024 EB | = 1048576 PB | = 2^70 Bytes |
| 1 YB (Yottabyte) | = 1024 ZB | = 1048576 EB | = 2^80 Bytes |
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