Skip to content
Step by Step Internet 馃寪 Guides for learning to surf the Net
Internet

Information measures What are they, what are they for and what are they?

We often hear or read about Internet speed, bandwidth or capacity of a USB stick or disk. ButWhat are they those units of measurement that are mentioned? Do you really know which represent?

It may happen that you want to buy a storage disk and you do not know how to choose between the different varieties. Or what confuse a bit with a byte. The best thing for these cases is that you learn about it before taking a decision.

Through the content of this post, you can know all about these values. From its origins to the present day. Read on to know more.

What is a unit of measurement of information in computing and what is it for?

Read moreHow to use Skype on my SmartTV to make video calls on the big screen? Step by step guide

Like values ​​like the meter or gram that we use to measure objects, there are also the measures for the storage of digital information. And like the others, it has a minimum unit which is called Bit. This value (Binary Digit) represents a 1 or 0 in the binary system. This way of measuring is the one used for computing since its inception. But to better understand what it is about it is necessary to know a little more about its history.

History and origin When and why are information measurement systems established?

History and origin When and why are information measurement systems established?

Read moreHow to change password in Outlook email fast and easy? Step by step guide

Binary systems have been in use for many years. From the Egyptians, through the telegraph, to the parents of the digital age Touring and Shannon. The latter being the one that unites electronics with Boole's algebraic logic. Transforming decimal information systems to a simpler one for machines.

However, it wasn't until late fifties with machine design 7030 IBM Stretch than byte with 8-bit structure is chosen as the standard model. Due to the success of this computer, subsequent devices continued to use this architecture. So the use of other amount of bits it became unnecessary.

List of all information measures in computing and their equivalents

List of all information measures in computing and their equivalents

In a similar way, the unit scale of the computer system uses the prefixes of the international system. However, those in the SI use a system based on 10 unitswhile the binaries do it in base 2. To understand this a little better, continue with the following table. (We will take the decimal definition to express the multiples of bits, since it is the most used to express Internet speeds).

Let's see below:

  • Bit (b). Equals a 1 or a 0.
  • Byte (B). Is equal to 8 bits and is the size of for example a single letter.
  • Kilobit (kb). Is equal to 1000 bits (103). It is the most used unit of measurement when indicating a Transfer speed from Internet. Not to be confused with kB which is 8 times higher.
  • Kilobyte (kB). Is equal to 1024 Bytes (two10) can be the size of a very short text.
  • Megabit (mb). Is equal to 1000 kilobits (106). Currently and thanks to the increase in transfer speeds through the web, it is possible to observe this unit of measurement per second in downloads.
  • Megabyte (mB). Is equal to 1024 kilobytes (twotwenty). Continuing with the theme, it could be a short novel.
  • Gigabit (gb). Equals 1000 mb (109). The appearance of fiber optic As a method of connecting to the web, it has allowed speed values ​​to increase dramatically. That is why, thanks to the fact that it allows 2gb per second, we can enjoy Internet, telephone and cablevision services through the same cable.
  • Gigabyte (gB). Is equal to 1024 megabytes (two30). What would a huge shelf full of books.
  • Terabit (tb). Equals 1000 gb (1012) or a trillion bits. The difference between this unit and the tebibit (binary system) is 10%. The latter being the largest.
  • TeraByte (tB). Is equal to 1024 gigabytes (two40). Being reciprocated to a large library.

Information measures in connection speed What are the differences between MB and Mb?

As an international standard Mb is used as a factor in time to indicate the transfer rate. However, it can be easy to confuse it with MB, that is, megabyte that is eight times larger (1 Byte = 8 bit). So it is important always corroborate this difference. Above all, in contracts with internet providers. For example, when purchasing a line of 400 Mbps (Megabits per second) will mean a rate of 50 MBps (Megabytes per second). A much smaller number if it has been confused.