Essential Computer Hardware

Data Storage Units

Much like length can be measured in metres and kilometres or weight in grams and kilograms.

For example, you’d have 1000 meters in a kilometre, or 1000 grams in a kilogram.

Computer storage is measured in the same fashion using bytes and kilobytes.

So, for example, you’d have 1000 bytes in a kilobyte.

Technically 1 kilobyte is exactly 1024 bytes because computers use binary to count (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024), not the decimal system (1, 10, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000) like we do.

Here’s a summary of the different units you’ll most likely come across when using computers.

To give you an idea, music and photos ...