Bit

Understanding Bits and Bytes

A bit serves as the fundamental unit of information in computing. Derived from the term “binary digit,” it represents a logical state with two possible values: 0 and 1.

Typically, bits are grouped into multiples called bytes to store and process data. A byte consists of eight bits; a group of four bits is called a nibble.

Practical Data Representation in Computing

Working with individual bits is uncommon due to their small size. Instead, they are commonly assembled into groups of eight to form bytes.

Each byte can store one ASCII character, allowing for more practical data representation.

Computer storage and memory are commonly measured in larger units such as megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB).

While hard drive manufacturers often use decimal number systems to define storage space (1 MB as one million bytes and 1 GB as one billion bytes), computers use the binary system, leading to slightly different values.

In summary, bits are the basic units of information in computing, represented by 0s and 1s.

They are grouped into bytes, typically eight bits, to store and process data.

Kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes are larger units of storage and memory, with the values differing slightly between the decimal system used by manufacturers and the binary system used by computers.