All Topics  
Mebibyte

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Mebibyte
 
 
  Topics Mebibyte Topic Home

The Mebibyte is a standards-based binary multiple
Binary prefix

In computing, a binary prefix is a set of letters that precede a unit of measure to indicate multiplication by a power of two. In certain contexts in computing, such as computer memory sizes, units of information storage and communication traffic have traditionally been reported in multiples of powers of two....
 (prefix mebi, symbol Mi) of the byte
Byte

A byte is a basic unit of measurement of Computer storage in computer science. In many computer architectures it is a Byte addressing memory address space....
, a unit of digital information storage. Mebibyte is abbreviated MiB.

1 MiB = 220 byte
Byte

A byte is a basic unit of measurement of Computer storage in computer science. In many computer architectures it is a Byte addressing memory address space....
s = 1,024 kibibyte
Kibibyte

A kibibyte is a unit of information or computer storage, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2000. Its symbol is KiB....
s = 1,048,576 bytes


The unit prefix mebi was defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission
International Electrotechnical Commission

The International Electrotechnical Commission is a Non-profit organization, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies ? collectively known as "electrotechnology"....
 (IEC) in December 1998. Use of mebibyte and related units is endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE is an international non-profit, professional body for the advancement of technology related to electricity....
 (IEEE) and the International Committee for Weights and Measures
International Committee for Weights and Measures

The International Committee for Weights and Measures is the English name of the Comit? international des poids et mesures . It consists of eighteen persons from Member States of the Metre Convention ....
 (CIPM) in contexts where use of a binary prefix
Binary prefix

In computing, a binary prefix is a set of letters that precede a unit of measure to indicate multiplication by a power of two. In certain contexts in computing, such as computer memory sizes, units of information storage and communication traffic have traditionally been reported in multiples of powers of two....
 makes sense, in order to protect the unambiguous definition of the unit prefix mega.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Mebibyte'
Start a new discussion about 'Mebibyte'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Mebibyte is a standards-based binary multiple
Binary prefix

In computing, a binary prefix is a set of letters that precede a unit of measure to indicate multiplication by a power of two. In certain contexts in computing, such as computer memory sizes, units of information storage and communication traffic have traditionally been reported in multiples of powers of two....
 (prefix mebi, symbol Mi) of the byte
Byte

A byte is a basic unit of measurement of Computer storage in computer science. In many computer architectures it is a Byte addressing memory address space....
, a unit of digital information storage. Mebibyte is abbreviated MiB.

1 MiB = 220 byte
Byte

A byte is a basic unit of measurement of Computer storage in computer science. In many computer architectures it is a Byte addressing memory address space....
s = 1,024 kibibyte
Kibibyte

A kibibyte is a unit of information or computer storage, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2000. Its symbol is KiB....
s = 1,048,576 bytes


The unit prefix mebi was defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission
International Electrotechnical Commission

The International Electrotechnical Commission is a Non-profit organization, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies ? collectively known as "electrotechnology"....
 (IEC) in December 1998. Use of mebibyte and related units is endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE is an international non-profit, professional body for the advancement of technology related to electricity....
 (IEEE) and the International Committee for Weights and Measures
International Committee for Weights and Measures

The International Committee for Weights and Measures is the English name of the Comit? international des poids et mesures . It consists of eighteen persons from Member States of the Metre Convention ....
 (CIPM) in contexts where use of a binary prefix
Binary prefix

In computing, a binary prefix is a set of letters that precede a unit of measure to indicate multiplication by a power of two. In certain contexts in computing, such as computer memory sizes, units of information storage and communication traffic have traditionally been reported in multiples of powers of two....
 makes sense, in order to protect the unambiguous definition of the unit prefix mega. Megabyte
Megabyte

Megabyte is a SI prefix-multiple of the unit byte for digital information computer storage or transmission and is equal to 106 bytes....
 is sometimes used in place of mebibyte, or to refer to 106 bytes = 1,000,000 bytes, or even 1,000 times 1,024 bytes, depending on context.

The historical binary interpretation of mega is still in wide use by the consumer software industry and use of the mebi prefix is still not common. This leads to consumer confusion
Gigabyte

Gigabyte is an SI prefix-multiple of the unit byte for Computer data storage. Since the giga- prefix means 109, gigabyte means 1,000,000,000 bytes ....
 when 220 (1,048,576) bytes is referenced as 1 MB (megabyte) instead of 1 MiB. For example, the operating system
Operating system

An operating system is an interface between hardware and applications; it is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the limited resources of the computer....
 Windows XP
Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptop, and media centers....
 shows a file of 220 bytes as "1.00 MB" in its file properties dialog
Dialog box

In graphical user interfaces, a dialog box is a special Window , used in user interfaces to display information to the user, or to get a response if needed....
. Likewise, a file of 106 (1 000 000) bytes is reported as 976 KB. In another example, the 1.44 MB floppy disk
Floppy disk

A floppy disk is a data storage medium that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangle plastic shell....
's storage capacity is calculated using 1,024,000 bytes per "MB" (e.g. 1.44 times 1024 times 1000), rather than 1.44 mebibytes (1.44 times 1,048,576). The three size designations are similar in value.

See also

  • Mebibit
    Mebibit

    The mebibit is a standards-based binary multiple of the bit, a unit of Computer data storage. It is abbreviated Mibit or sometimes Mib....
  • Kibibyte
    Kibibyte

    A kibibyte is a unit of information or computer storage, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2000. Its symbol is KiB....
  • Gibibyte
    Gibibyte

    Gibibyte is a unit of Computer data storage, abbreviated GiB.The gibibyte is closely related to the gigabyte, which can either be a synonym for gibibyte, or refer to 109 bytes = 1,000,000,000 bytes, depending on context ....
  • SI prefix
    SI prefix

    An SI prefix is a name or associated symbol that precedes a basic unit of measure to form a decimal multiple . The abbreviation SI is from the French language name Syst?me International d?Unit?s ....
  • IEEE 1541
    IEEE 1541

    IEEE 1541-2002 is a standard issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers concerning the use of prefixes for binary multiples of units of measurement related to digital electronics and computing....
  • Orders of magnitude (data)
    Orders of magnitude (data)

    This is a list of multiples for Computer data storage, measured in bits. This article assumes a descriptive attitude towards terminology, reflecting actual usage by the speakers of the language....


External links