Technology
What is Bytes and bits?
A byte is a basic unit of digital information, made of 8 bits. A bit is a single 1 or 0; eight of them form a byte, which can represent 256 values — enough for a letter or small number. Bytes are how computers measure and store all data.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains bytes and bits.
Key things to understand
- 1A bit is a single binary digit: 1 or 0.
- 2A byte is 8 bits, with 256 possible values.
- 3One byte can store a single character.
- 4Kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes scale up from bytes.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a byte?
- A unit of digital data made of 8 bits, able to represent 256 different values — enough for one character.
- What's the difference between a bit and a byte?
- A bit is a single 1 or 0; a byte is a group of 8 bits.
- How big is a kilobyte or megabyte?
- A kilobyte is about 1,000 bytes, a megabyte about a million, and a gigabyte about a billion.