Definition

A byte is a sequence of eight bits processed as a single unit of information. Historically, the byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the smallest addressable unit of memory in many computer architectures.

Calculating storage

Most hard drive manufacturers define maximum storage using the official SI prefixes (e.g., kilo, mega, giga, tera, etc.), but computer operating systems define the size of the hard drive in binary terms.

Related terms

Bit