The internet sends bytes of data as single bits per second, which is why internet speed measures in bits. One byte is equivalent to 8 bits. People confuse “gigabytes,” “gigabits,” “megabytes,” and “megabits” by giving them the same definitions or confusing their meanings. Bits and Bytes are both units of measurement that describe digital data.
Bit
A bit is the most basic unit of measurement used in telecommunications and computing. The binary system, bit, means it has one of two values,1 or 0. In a computer, the value indicates expressions like “yes” or “no,” and “true” or “false.”
Byte
A byte is equivalent to 8 bits. In 1956, Werner Buchholz, an American computer expert, coined “byte” during the IBM Stretch computer’s construction. He spelled the term differently on purpose to avoid any confusion with “bit.”
When abbreviating the two, “bit” is represented by a lowercase “b,” while “byte” is represented by the uppercase “B.” The two are different units of measurement. We use bits to measure the data transfer rate. Usually, you can recognize bits when you talk about a “bandwidth,” or network throughput, or internal data transfer. You use megabits or gigabits per second. On the other hand, you use bytes to describe data capacity. You measure file sizes and hard drives that store in gigabytes and terabytes.
Megabit (Mb)
Megabits are different from megabytes. A megabit is equivalent to one million bits. The semiconductor and telecommunications industry uses megabits. The unit is used to determine internet speed. 1 Mbit is 0.125 MB. A megabyte’s unit symbol is MB and it’s equivalent to one million bytes. For instance, your internet speed is 8 Mbps or 1 megabyte per second as 1 megabyte is 8 megabits. ISP offers cable modem internet access with a faster download speed of 200 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps. Fiber connections offer faster speeds. For instance, specific fiber internet connections provide upstream and downstream data transfers of 500 megabits per second.
Megabits are widely used when referring to data transfer rates of telecommunication systems or computer networks. Network transfer rates and download speeds use “megabit” as the unit of measurement when determining the amount transferred per time, for instance, a 100 Mbps Fast-Ethernet connection. Sizes of data are usually measured in megabytes. To transfer 1 MB per second, you need a network connection with eight megabits per second as the transfer rate.
Gigabit (Gb)
Gigabits are also used in computing and telecommunications to determine a quantity. Gigabit connection surpasses megabit connection by a lot. 1 gigabit is equivalent to 1000 megabits. Gigabits delivers more bits per second. Many users can benefit from gigabit internet because it sends large amounts of data at ultra-fast speeds that are faster than people have ever experienced. Gigabit internet provides high definition movies, 4K streaming, high-quality photos, and 4K gaming.
One gigabit can process a 2-hour movie in HD in less than a minute, and dozens of 4K Ultra HD videos are once. Many people in a household can use the internet at the same time, on many devices, TV streaming apps, online games, and other immersive media.
Knowing megabits and gigabits is useful for discussions about internet tech and other digital devices. It also helps you ask more accurate and knowledgeable questions when dealing with customer service or tech support.
Slow network connections are measured in Kbps or kilobits. Faster network connections are measured in megabits or Mbps. And, very fast internet connections are measured in gigabits or Gbps. Ethernet delivers 10 Mbps. 10 Gigabit Ethernet delivers 10 Gbps, which is the fastest speed rating.