kibibit
Noun: A kibibit is a unit of digital information or computer storage. It is equal to 1024 bits. The term is derived from the binary prefix "kibi-", which signifies multiplication by 2^10 (1024), combined with "bit," the most basic unit of information in computing.
The kibibit is used in contexts where data sizes or transmission rates are measured in binary multiples, as opposed to decimal multiples (like the kilobit, which equals 1000 bits). It provides precise measurement in fields like computer memory, chip capacity, and certain data communication specifications.
- The exact memory addressability required 1024 kibibits of space.
- Early documentation for that hardware specified a bus width of 1 kibibit.
- The cache size is measured in kibibits to reflect its true binary architecture.
- Symbol: The symbol for kibibit is Kibit or Kib.
- Context: It is crucial to distinguish between a kibibit (Kibit) and a kilobit (kbit). In many commercial contexts (like internet speed), "kilobit" per second (kbps) typically uses the decimal definition (1000 bits), while "kibibit" explicitly denotes the binary definition (1024 bits).
- Kibibyte (KiB): A related, more common unit equal to 1024 bytes, or 8 kibibits.
- Mebibit (Mibit): A larger unit equal to 1024 kibibits.
- Bit (b): The fundamental unit, a binary digit (0 or 1).
- Kibit (This is the standard abbreviated form and a direct synonym).
- 2^10 bits (A mathematical description of its value).
This word has a single, specific technical meaning. It is part of a standardized system (IEC 60027-2) created to eliminate ambiguity between decimal and binary multiples in computing.
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a unit of information equal to 1024 bits
