← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Nibble

A nibble is a group of 4 bits, so half a byte. Two nibbles make 1 byte. One hexadecimal digit fits exactly in one nibble.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 1.3 Data Storage and Compression — Module 2, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Binary Number Representation — Module 20

Understanding Nibble in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: A byte has 8 bits, and half of 8 is 4, which is the number of bits in a nibble. A nibble has exactly 4 bits. 1011 has 4 bits, but 10110 has 5 bits. The statement gives the basic definition of a nibble: 4 bits grouped together.

Common mistakes: 2 nibbles make 1 byte, not 3. It should be per_byte = 2, so the byte is 4 * 2 = 8 bits. There are 2 nibbles of 4 bits each, so the total bits is count * nibble_bits = 8. Adding gives 6, which is wrong. It should be total = count * nibble_bits.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 43–58) and word search (Modules 28–58).

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Learning
Duo
How many bits are in one nibble?
8 bits4 bits
Matches
1 nibble = 8 bits
↓
A nibble is 4 bits, not 8 bits. 8 bits is a whole byte, not a nibble.
Applying
Meanings
Term
nibble
Meaning
A nibble is a group of 4 bits, so half a byte. Two nibbles make 1 byte. One hexadecimal digit fits exactly in one nibble.
Practice
bitsPerNibble ← 4
Testing
Gaps
nibbleBits ←
Check Answer
Spots
1nibble = 4
2per_byte = 3

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Quick Questions

1. How many bits are in one nibble?
A. 8 bits
B. 4 bits ✓
A nibble is a group of 4 bits. A group of 8 bits is a byte.
2. How many nibbles make 1 byte?
A. 2 nibbles ✓
B. 4 nibbles
A byte has 8 bits and a nibble has 4 bits, so 8 ÷ 4 = 2 nibbles make 1 byte.
3. Which statement is correct?
A. A nibble is double a byte
B. A nibble is half a byte ✓
A nibble has 4 bits and a byte has 8 bits, so a nibble is half a byte.
4. How many bits are in 2 nibbles?
A. 8 bits ✓
B. 2 bits
Each nibble has 4 bits, so 2 nibbles have 2 × 4 = 8 bits. This is the same as 1 byte.
5. Which binary value is exactly one nibble?
A. 1011 ✓
B. 10110
A nibble has exactly 4 bits. 1011 has 4 bits, but 10110 has 5 bits.

Match the Pairs

1 nibble = 4 bits → A nibble is a group of 4 bits, so it can hold a binary pattern such as 1010.
1 byte = 2 nibbles → Two nibbles joined together make one byte (8 bits), so a nibble is half a byte.
A nibble is half a byte, so the number of bits in a nibble is the bits in a byte divided by 2. → nibbleBits = 8 / 2
One hexadecimal digit fits exactly in one nibble, so the binary 1111 is the single hex digit F. → 1111 = F
1 nibble = 8 bits → A nibble is 4 bits, not 8 bits. 8 bits is a whole byte, not a nibble.
1 byte = 4 nibbles → A byte is made of 2 nibbles, not 4. Four nibbles would be 16 bits, which is two bytes.

Key Term

nibble
A nibble is a group of 4 bits, so half a byte. Two nibbles make 1 byte. One hexadecimal digit fits exactly in one nibble.

Fill in the Blanks

1. nibbleBits ← 4
Hint: Type the number of bits that make up one nibble.
2. nibblesInByte ← 2
Hint: Type how many nibbles fit into one byte.
3. nibbles ← 2 bits ← nibbles * 4
Hint: Type the number of bits in each nibble to work out the bits in a byte.
4. byteBits ← 8 nibbleBits ← byteBits / 2
Hint: Type the operator that halves a byte, because a nibble is half a byte.
5. byteBits ← 8 hexDigits ← byteBits DIV 4
Hint: Type the number of bits one hexadecimal digit needs, which is the size of a nibble.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A nibble = 4
B per_byte = 3
C byte = nibble * per_byte
D print(byte)
Line B — 2 nibbles make 1 byte, not 3. It should be per_byte = 2, so the byte is 4 * 2 = 8 bits.
Question 2
A byte_bits = 8
B nibble_bits = 4
C count = byte_bits // nibble_bits
D total = count + nibble_bits
E print(total)
Line D — There are 2 nibbles of 4 bits each, so the total bits is count * nibble_bits = 8. Adding gives 6, which is wrong. It should be total = count * nibble_bits.
Question 3
A nibble_bits = 8
B per_byte = 2
C print(nibble_bits * per_byte)
Line A — A nibble is a group of 4 bits, not 8. 8 bits is a whole byte. It should be nibble_bits = 4.
Question 4
A byte_bits = 8
B nibble_bits = byte_bits * 2
C print(nibble_bits)
Line B — A nibble is half a byte, so divide the 8 bits by 2 to get 4 bits. Multiplying gives 16. It should be nibble_bits = byte_bits / 2.
Question 5
A hex_digit = 'FF'
B nibble = '1111'
C print(int(nibble, 2))
Line A — One hexadecimal digit fits in one nibble (4 bits). 'FF' is two hex digits, which need 2 nibbles (a whole byte). It should be hex_digit = 'F'.

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