In computing we find a series of terms that we have been using all our lives and that little by little have been expanding to other devices such as mobile phones. The same happens with photography, where terms such as aperture have also become more than common when we talk about smartphones.
If we talk about terms such as KB, MG, GB or TB (to name the most common today) we have to talk about storage. The terms KB, MG, GB and TB refer to the occupied space by an application or to the total available storage space of a device where data is stored. Below we explain in great detail, the equivalences with other measures, what each term means ...
One of the most important aspects that we must be clear about is that a bit is not a byte. Although they may sound similar, they are completely different things.
Don't confuse bit with byte
What is a bit
A bit is a digit of the binary numbering system that uses 0 and 1. One bit is the minimum unit of information that is used in any digital device (computers, mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras ...). A bit, it can be represented by 0 (off) and 1 (on). that allows us to establish values ​​such as open or closed, black and white, true or false, male or female, north or south ...
What is a byte
One byte is the basic unit of data in digital devices, is a sequence of bits whose size depends on the instructions included in the code. It is used in all those digital devices that have a storage unit. The term byte is also known as an octet, since it is made up of 8 bits. One byte contains 8 bits, while 2 bytes contain 16 bits.
Bit vs. Byte
While a bit is a digit that represents the binary system and it can only be 0 and 1, one byte is the smallest measure of data that can be registered in computation.
What do B, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB, EB and YB mean
Although to define the amount of byte, absolute values ​​in zeros are used to make it easier to understand, however it is not correct, since 1 KB actually equals 1.024 bytes not 1.000 bytes.
What does B (byte) mean
A byte is the smallest unit of data that is used to measure. It is represented by a B and contains 8 bits. The lowercase b is used to represent the bits, do not confuse the abbreviation used as they mean two completely different concepts.
What does KB (kilobyte) mean
1 KB equals 1000 bytes = 10 raised to 3 = 1.024 bytes
What does MB (megabyte) mean
1MB equals 1.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 6 = 1.024.000 bytes
1 MB is 1.000 KB = 1.024 KB
What does GB (Gibabyte) mean
1GB equals 1.000.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 9 = 1.024.000.000 bytes
1GB is 1.000MB = 1.024MB
1 GB is 1.000.000 KB.
What does TB (Terabyte) mean
1 TB equals 1.000.000.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 12 = 1.024.000.000.000 bytes
1 TB is 1.000 GB = 1.024 GB
1 TB is 1.000.000 MB
What does PB (Petabyte) mean
1 PB equals 1.000.000.000.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 15 = 1.024.000.000.000.000 bytes
1 PB is 1.000 TB = 1.024 TB
1 PB with 1.000.000 GB
What does EB (Exabyte) mean
1 EB equals 1.000.000.000.000.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 18 = 1.024.000.000.000.000.000 bytes
1 EB are 1.000 PB = 1.024 PB
1 EB is 1.000.000 TB
What does ZB (Zettabyte) mean
1 ZB equals 1.000.000.000.000.000.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 21 = 1.024.000.000.000.000.000.000 bytes
1 ZB is 1.000 EB = 1.024 EB
1 ZB is 1.000.000 EB
What does YB (Yottabyte) mean
1 YB equals 1.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000 bytes = 10 raised to 24 = 1.024.000.000.000.000.000.000.000 bytes
1 YB is 1.000 ZB = 1.024 ZB
1 YB is 1.000.000 EB
My hard drive is running out of space
When we buy a hard drive, the manufacturer sells us specific capacities: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 10 TB ... however, once we turn it on or connect to our computer we see how the storage capacity offered does not match with what we are really supposed to have bought.
Taking into account the previous section, it is logical to expect that from a 1 TB hard drive, we will have 1.024 GB available. The first problem we face is that manufacturers advertise their devices with the equivalence that 1 KB is 1.000 bytes, when in reality it is 1.024 bytes, so we already lose part of the supposed storage.
The second problem is found in the use that Windows makes of our hard drive, that is, how it interprets it. Windows interprets a Kilobyte as 1.024 bytes, a MB as 1.024 KB and so on. When dividing the storage space that the manufacturer ensures and that has been interpreted as it really is not (that 1 KB is 1.000 bytes), we find the real capacity of the hard disk that Windows offers us.
For example, if we have bought a 1 TB hard drive according to the manufacturer, when we connect it to our equipment, the real space that we are going to have available It is the result of dividing 1 TB (1.000.000.000.000.000) by 4 times by 1.024 (1.024 KB * 1.024 MB * 1.024 GB * 1.024 TB), which makes a total of 931 GB, which will be the total available space.
Until manufacturers use the exact size of a KB as 1.024 bytes and not 1.000 bytes, this problem will always happen, so you do not have to look for solutions to a problem for which there is no solution without the involvement of the manufacturers.
Internet speed is measured in Bits not Bytes
In an effort to sell more internet connections, each and every one of the operators offers different price plans depending on the download speed, a download speed that measured in MB (Megabyte) instead of Mbps (Megabits per second).
MB in internet speed refers to Mbps, since the MB shows the size of the files and not the connection speed.
Taking into account this information, you will not be surprised to have checked on many occasions how the connection speed offered by your operator has nothing to do with reality. To calculate the actual speed of our internet connection, we must divide the advertised speed in MB by 8.
In this way, when an operator claims that it offers you a symmetric 1 GB rate, you are referring to 1.000 Mbps, not 1.000 MB. Doing the calculation to know the real download speed of our internet connection, we divide 1.000 Mbps by 8 (let's remember 8 bits is one byte) and the result is 125 MB per second.
Now you will understand, the reason why despite a high speed fiber connection, does not allow you to download files at 200, 300 or even 500 MB per second.