Kilobit per second (kb/s)

Definition

Kilobit per second (kb/s) is a measurement of data transfer rate, indicating the number of kilobits transmitted in one second. It is not an SI unit but is commonly used in computing and telecommunications. One kilobit equals **1,000 bits **.

History

The kilobit emerged in the late 20th century alongside digital technologies. As computing and telecommunications expanded, it became essential for measuring data speeds. The transition from baud rates to kb/s occurred in the 1990s with the rise of the internet.

Uses

Kilobits per second are primarily used to quantify data transmission rates in internet connections, streaming services, and network bandwidth. They are common in consumer internet service plans and in various media formats.

Conversions

  • 1 kb/s = 1,000 bits per second
  • 1 Mbps (megabit per second) = 1,000 kb/s
  • 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) = 1,000,000 kb/s

Fun Facts

  • A common misconception is that kb/s and kB/s (kilobytes per second) are the same; they are not—1 kB/s equals **8 kb/s **.
  • The term "kilobit" is often confused with "kilobyte," which measures larger data sizes.
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