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WikiChip:data size units policy

This is WikiChip's Official Data Size Units Policy. All articles on WikiChip must follow this policy.

Policy

WikiChip adheres to IEC 80000-13.

When representing numbers in base 2 When representing numbers in base 10
Binary Prefix Decimal Prefix
  • 1 Byte = 8 Bits
  • 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes
  • 1 MiB = 1,024 KiB = 1,048,576 bytes
  • 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB = 1,048,576 KiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
  • 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB = 1,048,576 MiB = 1,073,741,824 KiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
  • 1 PiB = 1,024 TiB = 1,048,576 GiB = 1,073,741,824 MiB = 1,099,511,627,776 Kib
  • 1 B = 8 bits
  • 1 kB = 1,000 bytes = 8,000 bits
  • 1 MB = 1,000 kB = 1,000,000 bytes
  • 1 GB = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000 kB = 1,000,000,000 bytes
  • 1 TB = 1,000 GB = 1,000,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 kB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes
  • 1 PB = 1,000 TR = 1,000,000 TB = 1,000,000,000 MB = 1,000,000,000,000 kB

Used for memory size, address space, page sizes, cache sizes, register file size (e.g 32 KiB).

Used for networth bandwidth (e.g 10 Mbit/s, 100 kB/s), thumb drive, and disk size (e.g 500 GB)

Rationale

There are endless possible numbering systems and thus infinite ways to represent a single quantity. The two most prominent numbering systems are the binary (base-2) and the decimal (base-10). The problem is that traditionally the way software, websites, and even datasheets was ambiguous as to whether it was base 2 or base 10. Is "1 MB" "1000000 Bytes" or "1048576 Bytes"? The confusion stems from applications (such as Windows using Si Units in base 2. To solve this ambiguity, the IEC introduced 60027-2 a set of notations representing digital information in binary (later IEEE 1541, IEC 80000).

Affected Properties

Offending articles can be tracked via Property:Has improper value for.

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