byte

byte  (bt)

n.

A sequence of adjacent bits, usually eight, operated on as a unit by a computer.

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[Alteration and blend of bit³ and bite.]

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byte

Noun

Computers a group of bits processed as one unit of data [origin unknown]

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byte  (bt)

A sequence of adjacent bits operated on as a unit by a computer. A byte usually consists of eight bits. Amounts of computer memory are often expressed in terms of megabytes (1,048,576 bytes) or gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes).

Usage The word bit is short for binary digit. A bit consists of one of two values, usually 0 or 1. Computers use bits because their system of counting is based on two options: switches on a microchip that are either on or off. Thus, a computer counts to seven in bits as follows: 0, 1, 10 [2], 11 [3], 100 [4], 101 [5], 110 [6], 111 [7]. Notice that the higher the count, the more adjacent bits are needed to represent the number. For example, it requires two adjacent bits to count from 0 to 3, and it takes three adjacent bits to count from 0 to 7. A sequence of bits can represent not just numbers but other kinds of data, such as the letters and symbols on a keyboard. The sequence of 0s and 1s that make up data are usually counted in groups of 8, and these groups of 8 bits are called bytes. The word byte is short for binary digit eight. To transmit one keystroke on a typical keyboard requires one byte of information (or 8 bits). To transmit a three-letter word requires three bytes of information (or 24 bits).

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

byte - a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information computer memory unit - a unit for measuring computer memory bit - a unit of measurement of information (from binary + digit); the amount of information in a system having two equiprobable states; "there are 8 bits in a byte" nibble, nybble - a small byte word - a word is a string of bits stored in computer memory; "large computers use words up to 64 bits long"

Translations

byte [baɪt] n (COMPUT) → byte m; octeto

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byte [baɪt] n (Comput) → octet m

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byte [baɪt] n (Comput) → Byte nt

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byte [baɪt] n (COMPUT) → byte m inv