Difference between revisions of "Byte"
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| − | A '''byte''' is the smallest unit of data which a given computer can handle. Modern computers typically support bytes which are 8 [[bit]]s wide. Older machines, with [[word]] sizes which were not a multiple of 8 bits, often supported byte sizes other than 8 - e.g. 6-bit bytes. | + | A '''byte''' is the smallest unit of data which a given computer can handle. Modern computers typically support bytes which are 8 [[bit]]s wide. Older machines, with [[word]] sizes which were not a multiple of 8 bits, often supported byte sizes other than 8 - e.g. 6-bit bytes, on 36-bit machines. The standard abbreviation for 'byte' (e.g. in giving [[main memory]] sizes) is 'B'. |
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[[Category: Basics]] | [[Category: Basics]] | ||
Revision as of 18:32, 24 August 2021
A byte is the smallest unit of data which a given computer can handle. Modern computers typically support bytes which are 8 bits wide. Older machines, with word sizes which were not a multiple of 8 bits, often supported byte sizes other than 8 - e.g. 6-bit bytes, on 36-bit machines. The standard abbreviation for 'byte' (e.g. in giving main memory sizes) is 'B'.
