# What is a bit? Bits and bytes explained Bits and bytes are part of our everyday digital life. Knowing about bits is essential for understanding how much storage your hard drive has or how fast your DSL connection is. So what is a bit and how is it different from a byte? A bit is the smallest unit of electronic information; multiple bits form a byte. Whereas the storage capacity of hard drives is given in bytes, data transfer rates are shown in bits. Keep reading to find out more about what bits and bytes really mean. ## What is a bit? You’re probably familiar with the image of green ones and zeros filling the screen, made famous by the *Matrix* movies. This binary code forms the **basis for all digital information processing and data transfers**. Computers use binary numbers to communicate. Binary numbers represent two states: 1 for “on/true” and 0 for “off/false”. The bit is the representation of one of these two states. “Bit” stands for *binary digit* and is the **smallest unit of binary information**. It thus forms the basis for all larger data in digital technology. It doesn’t get smaller than a bit, as a bit represents the state 0 or 1. Since computers communicate using binary states, they don’t understand anything “smaller” than 1 or 0. Figuratively speaking, the bit is the smallest possible container in which information can be stored. ## What is the difference between bits and bytes? Thanks to their very similar names, bits and bytes can easily be confused. Bits are primarily used to represent **data use and transmission speeds** of internet, telephone, and streaming services. The **bit rate** refers to how many bits are transmitted per second. Bytes, on the other hand, are used to express [storage sizes](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/units-of-storage-in-computers/ "Units of storage in computers"). 1 byte is equal to 8 bits. This means that one byte can represent 256 (28) different states. A byte is usually the smallest unit that can represent a letter of the alphabet, for example. The kilobyte is the next largest unit; it equals 1,024 bytes and can represent 103 states. --- ### Fact While there’s nothing smaller than a bit, there is a unit in between bits and bytes - the [nibble](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-nibble/ "What is a nibble?"). A nibble usually consists of 4 bits. Since the rounded conversion doesn’t always correspond to 4 bits, internet and telephone service providers also use the terms “semi-octette” and “quadbit”. --- ## What are the various multiples of bits and bytes? Bits and bytes are too small to be used in most situations. Instead, various multiples are commonly used. DSL providers usually advertise high-speed internet connections with 300 **megabits** per second (Mbit/s). And the storage capacities of hard drives or USB sticks are usually given in **megabytes**, **gigabytes**, or **terabytes**. The following table provides an overview of bit and byte multiples:
Data units in bits Data quantities in bytes
Bit = 1 or 0 [Byte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-byte/) (B) = 8 Bits
Kilobit (Kbit) = 1,000 Bits [Kilobyte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-kilobyte/) (KB) = 1,024 Bytes
Megabit (Mbit) = 1,000 Kbits [Megabyte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-megabyte/) (MB) = 1,024 KB
Gigabit (Gbit) = 1,000 Mbits [Gigabyte (GB)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-gigabyte/) = 1,024 MB
Terabit (Tbit) = 1,000 Gbits [Terabyte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-terabyte/) (TB) = 1,024 GB
Petabit (Pbit) = 1,000 Tbits [Petabyte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-petabyte/) (PB) = 1,024 TB
Exabit (Ebit) = 1,000 Pbits [Exabyte (GB)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-an-exabyte/) = 1,024 PB
Zettabit (Zbit) = 1,000 Ebits [Zettabyte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-zettabyte/) (ZB) = 1,024 EB
Yottabit (Ybit) = 1,000 Zbits [Yottabyte](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-yottabyte/) (YB) = 1,024 ZB
Brontobit (Bbit) = 1,000 Ybits [Brontobyte (BB)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-brontobyte/) = 1,024 YB
--- ### Note There are two systems for labeling data quantities: using decimal prefixes and binary prefixes. Decimal prefixes are by far more commonly used and are the ones shown in the above table. To learn more about the way bits and bytes are converted, see our article on [storage units](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/units-of-storage-in-computers/ "Units of storage in computers"). --- [![Image: Various storage sizes in terms of bits](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/9/csm_various-storage-sizes-in-terms-of-bits_9b552d11a1.webp "Various storage sizes in terms of bits")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Schaubilder/various-storage-sizes-in-terms-of-bits.png) Various storage units in terms of bits The following bit rates are often used when talking about data transmission or the reading/writing speeds of hardware and storage devices: 1. Kbit/s: Kilobits per second 2. Mbit/s: Megabits per second 3. Gbit/s: Gigabits per second 4. Tbit/s: Terabits per second Terms like “gigabytes” and “terabytes” can be hard to grasp. To get an idea of what these data quantities actually mean, take a look at these concrete examples: **Storage capacity:** 1 MB = approx. 1 book 1 GB = approx. 3,334 books 1 TB = approx. 3,334,000 books **Data use:** approx. 100–200 KB = 1 image in a messenger app approx. 100–200 MB = 1 hour-long video call approx. 300 GB = 100 hours of video streaming ## How did bits get their name? The term “bit” was first used by **John W. Turkey**, an American mathematician. Turkey shortened “binary information digit” into “bit” in a Bell Labs memo. The word became more widely used after **Claude E. Shannon** included it in his 1948 treatise “A Mathematical Theory of Communication”. **Vannevar Bush** used the phrase “bits of information” to refer to truth values that used to be saved on computer punch cards. --- ### Tip Keep in mind that storage capacity and data transmission speeds aren’t the only important characteristics when it comes to memory. Having flexible access to your data is also key. Use the [HiDrive Cloud Storage by IONOS](https://www.ionos.com/office-solutions/hidrive-cloud-storage "HiDrive Cloud Storage") to create backups and store your data centrally in **secure cloud storage**. That way you’ll have access to your files on all your devices. The best part: You’ll avoid losing any of your data, have constant access to it, and get great prices for cloud storage with options ranging from 100 to 2,000 GB. --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-bit/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-bit/) for AI/LLM consumption.