byte

[ bahyt ]

noun

, Computers.

1. adjacent bits, usually eight, processed by a computer as a unit.
2. the combination of bits used to represent a particular letter, number, or special character.

byte

/ baɪt /

noun

1. a group of bits, usually eight, processed as a single unit of data
2. the storage space in a memory or other storage device that is allocated to such a group of bits
3. a subdivision of a word

byte

/ bīt /

1. 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).

byte

1. In computer technology, a unit of information made up of bits (often eight bits). The memory capacity of a typical personal computer runs from millions to billions of bytes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of byte¹

First recorded in 1959; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of byte¹

C20: probably a blend of bit ⁴+ bite

Usage

The word bit is short for bi nary digi t. 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. In origin byte is simply a respelling of bite, a byte being the number of bits that a computer can take at one bite, so to speak. The spelling change was intended to avoid confusion in written documents, since bite becomes identical to bit if the e at the end of bite is accidentally dropped. 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).

Example Sentences

It was in that same answer where Dipoto supplied the sound byte that went viral on social media, filled local sports radio airwaves and even made its way on to national platforms such as MLB Network.

From Seattle Times

The exchange comes amid a national debate over whether TikTok should be banned in the U.S., over fears that the app, which is owned by the Chinese company Byte Dance, might share user data with the Chinese government.

From Slate

Jobs approached Paul Terrell, owner of The Byte Shop in Mountain View, California, and he agreed to buy 50 Apple-1 computers, but only if they were fully assembled, according to RR Auction.

From Seattle Times

“They managed to reach close to Atiq and his brother on the pretext of recording a byte and fired at them from close range. Both sustained bullet injuries on the head,” he said.

From Washington Times

He was a darling of business journalists because of his accessibility and willingness to give a quick byte or quote, and his views were much sought after.

From BBC