Byte

computers · data · digital

Eight bits together. A byte is made of 8 tiny bits, which are like switches that can be either on (1) or off (0). When you combine 8 of these switches, you can create 256 different combinations.

Stores one character. A byte was invented to hold exactly one letter, number, or symbol from a keyboard. This is why almost every computer uses the same 8-bit byte system today.

Computer's smallest chunk. Your computer can't access anything smaller than a byte in its memory. It's like the smallest sandwich you could make for the computer to grab.

Called an octet too. Network documents sometimes call an 8-bit byte an 'octet' to be extra clear about the size. 'Octet' comes from the same word as 'octopus', which has 8 arms.