So, what’s larger – a MB or a GB? And what is the difference between KB and MB? There are always confusions when it comes to digital storage units. The correct classification of kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes makes it easier to deal with files and storage carriers. According to the decimal system, 1 megabyte = 1,000 kilobytes and 1,000 megabytes correspond to one gigabyte. 1 MB is therefore significantly larger than 1 KB and significantly smaller than 1 GB. However, because the prefixes kilo, mega, and giga are based on the decimal system and computers use the binary system, this conversion is not accurate.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) found a solution to this problem. It introduced new prefixes that weren’t based on the power of ten but on the power of two which are used by computers. These prefixes are based on their decimal counterparts but are assigned the syllable "bi". Megabyte thus becomes mebibyte, gigabyte becomes gibibyte, etc. As a result, instead of the conversion number 1,000 (103), the technically correct 1,024 (210) is used. Nevertheless, the binary prefixes have not caught on just yet. Instead, the old decimal prefixes are still widely used, but with the more precise conversion of 1,024.