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Data

Digital information size. SI: the byte (B). Note the difference between decimal (KB=1000) and binary (KiB=1024) prefixes.

All Data units (12)

One binary digit — 1/8 byte. Networking.

8 bits. Standard unit of digital storage.

1000 bytes (decimal). Disk marketing.

1024 bytes (binary). RAM.

10⁶ bytes (decimal).

1024 KiB (binary). RAM.

10⁹ bytes (decimal). SSDs, downloads.

10¹² bytes (decimal). Hard drives.

10¹⁵ bytes. Data centres.

kilobit per second

1000 bits per second. Internet speeds.

Popular Data conversions

bit → byte bit → kilobyte bit → kibibyte bit → megabyte bit → mebibyte bit → gigabyte bit → gibibyte byte → bit byte → kilobyte byte → kibibyte byte → megabyte byte → mebibyte byte → gigabyte byte → gibibyte kilobyte → bit kilobyte → byte kilobyte → kibibyte kilobyte → megabyte kilobyte → mebibyte kilobyte → gigabyte kilobyte → gibibyte kibibyte → bit kibibyte → byte kibibyte → kilobyte kibibyte → megabyte kibibyte → mebibyte kibibyte → gigabyte kibibyte → gibibyte megabyte → bit megabyte → byte megabyte → kilobyte megabyte → kibibyte megabyte → mebibyte megabyte → gigabyte megabyte → gibibyte mebibyte → bit mebibyte → byte mebibyte → kilobyte mebibyte → kibibyte mebibyte → megabyte mebibyte → gigabyte mebibyte → gibibyte gigabyte → bit gigabyte → byte gigabyte → kilobyte gigabyte → kibibyte gigabyte → megabyte gigabyte → mebibyte gigabyte → gibibyte gibibyte → bit gibibyte → byte gibibyte → kilobyte gibibyte → kibibyte gibibyte → megabyte gibibyte → mebibyte gibibyte → gigabyte

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SI base unit of data?

The SI base data unit is B. Most conversions factor through it, except temperature which is affine and fuel-economy which is reciprocal.

Which unit systems are represented?

Data includes both metric and imperial units (where they exist in this category). For mass and length, both metric (kg, m) and US customary (lb, ft) are listed. For temperature, the three most-common scales (Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin) plus Rankine and Réaumur.

How accurate are these conversions?

Conversions use the standard SI factors (NIST values where applicable). Where two slightly different definitions exist (e.g. KB vs KiB, US vs UK gallon), they are listed as separate units rather than auto-rounded.

Other categories

Distance, height, width — anything that measures how long something is. SI base unit: the metre (m).

How much matter is in something. Differs from weight (which is force). SI base: kilogram (kg).

How hot or cold something is. Conversions are affine — there is an offset, not just a multiplier.

Size of a 2-D surface. SI base: square metre (m²).

Space occupied by a 3-D object. SI base: litre (L) for everyday use; cubic metre (m³) for SI.

Distance per unit time. SI: metre per second (m/s).

Duration. SI base: the second (s).

Capacity to do work. SI base: joule (J). Also commonly expressed as calories, kWh, BTU.

Force per unit area. SI base: pascal (Pa).

Rotation or turning. SI base: radian (rad).

Distance per unit of fuel, or its reciprocal (fuel per distance). Base: litres per 100 km.