BYTE

Etymology

The term 'byte' is derived from a respelling of 'bite,' indicating the number of bits that a computer can process at once.

Definition

A byte is a unit of computer information or data-storage capacity that consists of a group of eight bits, commonly used to represent an alphanumeric character.

Historical Context

Historically, the byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer, serving as the smallest addressable unit of memory in many computer architectures.

Cultural Significance

Bytes are fundamental in computing, forming the basis of data storage and processing in modern technology. They enable the representation of text, images, and other forms of digital information.

Related Concepts

Bytes are closely related to bits, which are the basic units of information in computing. Kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes are larger units of storage capacity, each consisting of multiple bytes.

See Also

• [Bit](link to bit entry)
• [Kilobyte](link to kilobyte entry)
• [Megabyte](link to megabyte entry)