← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

The unit ladder: byte to exbibyte

The storage unit ladder from smallest to largest. Above the byte, each unit is 1024 times the one before: 1 KiB = 1024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1024 KiB, and so on up to EiB.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 1.3 Data Storage and Compression — Module 9

Understanding The unit ladder: byte to exbibyte in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: This lists every unit in size order: bit, nibble (4 bits), byte (8 bits), then KiB up to EiB. GiB is one step above MiB, so it is 1024 times larger, which is the rule for every step above the byte. The order is KiB, MiB, GiB. GiB (gibibyte) is the next unit up from MiB. KiB is the unit below MiB. The binary units KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB and EiB each go up by a factor of 1024, which is 2 to the power of 10. The ladder is bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB. EiB is at the top and PiB is just below it.

Common mistakes: Each binary unit above the byte is 1024 times the one before, not 1000. It should be 1 MiB = 1024 KiB. The ladder must run from smallest to largest. KiB is smaller than MiB, so the order should be 'byte', 'KiB', 'MiB'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 59–68) and word search (Modules 59–84).

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Learning

Duo

Which list shows the units in order from smallest to largest?

bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiBbit, byte, nibble, KiB, MiB, GiB

Matches

bit, byte, nibble, KiB, MiB, GiB

↓

The nibble and byte are in the wrong order. A nibble (4 bits) is smaller than a byte (8 bits), so the nibble comes first.

Applying

Meanings

Term

bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB

Meaning

The storage unit ladder from smallest to largest. Above the byte, each unit is 1024 times the one before: 1 KiB = 1024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1024 KiB, and so on up to EiB.

Practice

bit < nibble < byte < KiB < MiB < GiB < TiB < PiB < EiB

Testing

Gaps

bit < nibble < byte < < MiB < GiB

Check Answer

Spots

31 KiB = 1024 bytes

41 MiB = 1000 KiB

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Quick Questions

1. Which list shows the units in order from smallest to largest?

A. bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiB ✓

B. bit, byte, nibble, KiB, MiB, GiB

A nibble is 4 bits and a byte is 8 bits, so the nibble comes before the byte. After the byte the order is KiB, MiB, GiB.

2. Which unit comes directly after the mebibyte (MiB) on the ladder?

A. GiB ✓

B. KiB

The order is KiB, MiB, GiB. GiB (gibibyte) is the next unit up from MiB. KiB is the unit below MiB.

3. Which unit comes directly before the tebibyte (TiB)?

A. PiB

B. GiB ✓

The order is GiB, TiB, PiB. GiB is the unit below TiB. PiB is the unit above it.

4. Which statement about the ladder above the byte is correct?

A. Each unit is 1024 times the unit before it ✓

B. Each unit is 1000 times the unit before it

The binary units KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB and EiB each go up by a factor of 1024, which is 2 to the power of 10.

5. Which is the largest unit on the ladder?

A. PiB (pebibyte)

B. EiB (exbibyte) ✓

The ladder is bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB. EiB is at the top and PiB is just below it.

Match the Pairs

1 KiB = 1024 bytes → The kibibyte is the first unit above the byte on the ladder

1 EiB = 1024 PiB → The exbibyte is the top unit of the ladder, one step above the pebibyte

The full storage ladder in order from smallest to largest, starting at the bit → bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB

Above the byte, each unit is 1024 times the unit directly below it → 1 GiB = 1024 MiB

bit, byte, nibble, KiB, MiB, GiB → The nibble and byte are in the wrong order. A nibble (4 bits) is smaller than a byte (8 bits), so the nibble comes first.

KiB, MiB, TiB, GiB, PiB, EiB → TiB and GiB are swapped. The GiB comes before the TiB, because the TiB is 1024 times larger than the GiB.

Key Term

bit, nibble, byte, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB

The storage unit ladder from smallest to largest. Above the byte, each unit is 1024 times the one before: 1 KiB = 1024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1024 KiB, and so on up to EiB.

Fill in the Blanks

1. bit < nibble < byte < KiB < MiB < GiB

Hint: Type the unit that comes straight after the byte on the ladder.

2. 1 KiB = 1024 bytes

Hint: Type the multiplier used between binary storage units above the byte.

3. 1 GiB = 1024 MiB

Hint: Type the unit one step below the gibibyte.

4. TiB < PiB < EiB

Hint: Type the unit that sits between the tebibyte and the exbibyte.

5. byte, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB

Hint: Type the unit that comes right after the gibibyte.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A 1 nibble = 4 bits

B 1 byte = 8 bits

C 1 KiB = 1024 bytes

D 1 MiB = 1000 KiB

Line D — Each binary unit above the byte is 1024 times the one before, not 1000. It should be 1 MiB = 1024 KiB.

Question 2

A ladder = [

B 'byte', 'MiB', 'KiB',

C 'GiB', 'TiB', 'PiB', 'EiB'

D ]

Line B — The ladder must run from smallest to largest. KiB is smaller than MiB, so the order should be 'byte', 'KiB', 'MiB'.

Question 3

A unit = 'GiB'

B below = 'KiB'

C above = 'TiB'

Line B — The unit directly below GiB is MiB, not KiB. KiB is two steps down the ladder.

Question 4

A unit = 'TiB'

B below = 'GiB'

C above = 'EiB'

Line C — The unit directly above TiB is PiB. EiB is two steps above TiB, because PiB sits between them.

Question 5

A 1 PiB = 1024 TiB

B 1 TiB = 1024 GiB

C 1 GiB = 1024 KiB

Line C — A GiB is 1024 times the unit directly below it, which is the MiB. It should be 1 GiB = 1024 MiB.

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