Computer Storage Units Smallest to
Largest
Bit is an eighth of a byte*
The bit is the smallest fundamental size of data storage. It is a binary digit
meaning that it can take the value of either 1 or 0. All computer data can
be broken down to a string of these 1 and 0 (like in the Matrix, only it
doesn’t fall down the screen like rain). When represented as a string it is
called binary code.
Byte: 1 Byte
A single byte stores eight bits*, eight 1’s or 0’s. This octet of bits is the
smallest unit for a base 1,000 order of magnitude naming system as
follows…
Kilobyte: 1 thousand or, 1,000 bytes
Files not relying on on the kilo prefix are the boring ones, word docs, excel
sheets, most pictures.
Megabyte: 1 million, or 1,000,000 bytes
Still pretty lame. Short videos, music. Even a pre-historic floppy disc can
store a bunch of these.
Gigabyte: 1 billion, or 1,000,000,000 bytes
Finally respectable. The GB is quickly becoming the standard by which
storage capacity is judged as most computer hardware will advertize
capacity in terms of GB’s
Terabyte: 1 trillion, or 1,000,000,000,000 bytes
Currently, hard drive capacity does not exceed this order of magnitude.
One terabyte of data can store just under two and a half years of music
played continuously. The entire library of congress can be stored on 82
terabytes of data.
Petabye: 1 quadrillion, or
1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
Now things are getting hardcore. This is the largest order of magnitude
which is any single organization claims to have the capacity of and/or
handle. All of the user photo’s on Facebook is estimated at close to 1
petabyte of data. Google processes an estimated 20 petabytes of data a
day.
Exabyte: 1 quintillion, or
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
The exabyte is borderline hypothetical at this point. It is theorized that, per
month, the entire internet (yeah, lolcats and all) see’s about 5-8 exabytes
of traffic. It was proposed that in 2006 all computer data would fit on 160
exabytes of data.
Zettabyte: one sextillion or
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
WARNING, WARNING you are now in the DANGER ZONE of data storage
capacity.It is estimated that by the year 2010 all digital data in existence
will sum up to just under one Zettabyte.
Yottabyte: 1 septillion, or
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
Trying to quantify this may make your head explode so you'll need to sign
a release before I go any further.
*a byte can actually be composed of any number of bits, however, eight is
standard
