Data Storage Units – Quick Guide
Core Idea: Each unit is 1024× the previous (binary system). Bit → Byte (8 bits) → KB → MB → GB → TB → PB → EB.
Formula Pattern
Next Unit Value = Previous Unit ÷ 1024 | Previous = Next × 1024
Quick Reference
- 1 KB = 1024 B
- 1 MB = 1024 KB
- 1 GB = 1024 MB
- 1 TB = 1024 GB
Binary vs Decimal
Binary (KiB, MiB) uses 1024 powers; marketing decimal (kB, MB) sometimes uses 1000. This tool uses binary powers (1024).
Typical Uses
- KB/MB: documents, images, app assets
- GB: phone storage, SSD sizes
- TB+: backups, data lakes, servers
Accuracy Tips
- Keep full precision internally; format only for display.
- Watch Mb (megabit) vs MB (megabyte): 1 MB = 8 Mb.
- Capacity labels (e.g., 512 GB drive) appear smaller in OS due to decimal vs binary.
Examples
- 5 GB = 5 × 1024 MB = 5120 MB
- 2.5 MB = 2.5 × 1024 KB = 2560 KB
- 1536 KB ÷ 1024 = 1.5 MB
FAQ
1 GB in MB? 1024 MB. Largest common unit? EB (beyond: ZB, YB). Why less space shown? Decimal labeling & overhead.
Tip: Programmatic conversion: valueInTarget = value * (bytesPerSource / bytesPerTarget).