Science Fact Finder | Mathematics, Numbers, and Computers - How Is A Byte Defined?

How is a byte defined?

A byte, a common unit of computer storage, holds the equivalent of a single character—such as a letter ("A"), a number ("2"), a symbol ("$"), a decimal point, or a space. It is usually equivalent to eight "data bits" and one "parity bit." The data bit, the smallest unit of information in a digital computer, is equivalent to a single "0" or "1." The parity bit is used to check for errors in the data bits making up the byte.

Sources: Freedman, Alan. The Computer Glossary, 6th ed., pp. 48-49, 60; Understanding Computers: Illustrated Chronology and Index, p. 16; Wyatt, Allen L. Computer Professional's Dictionary, p. 60.

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