Megabyte (MB)

Definition

A megabyte (MB) is a unit of digital information storage equal to 1,024 kilobytes (KB) or 1,048,576 bytes. It is not an SI unit but is widely accepted in computing and telecommunications.

History

The term "megabyte" emerged in the 1970s as computer storage began to expand. Originally, it was defined as 1,000,000 bytes in contexts like data transfer rates. However, the binary interpretation of 1,048,576 bytes became standard in computing, especially with the advent of personal computers in the 1980s.

Uses

Megabytes are commonly used to measure file sizes, memory capacities, and data transfer rates in everyday computing. It is relevant in various fields like software development, multimedia, and web hosting. Countries worldwide use MB for digital storage metrics.

Conversions

  • 1 MB = 1,024 KB
  • 1 GB (gigabyte) = 1,024 MB
  • 1 TB (terabyte) = 1,024 GB

Fun Facts

  • A common misconception is that a megabyte always equals 1,000,000 bytes; however, it is 1,048,576 bytes in binary contexts.
  • The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced the term "mebibyte" (MiB) to specify the binary value, but "megabyte" remains more widely used.
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