Exabit to Bit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert exabits to bits with our free online data storage converter.
Exabit to Bit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Exabit).
- The converted value in Bit will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Data Storage category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Exabit to Bit
Converting Exabit to Bit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Exabit = 1000000000000000000 bits
Example Calculation:
Convert 10 exabits: 10 × 1000000000000000000 = 1.0000e+19 bits
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Exabit and a Bit?
An exabit (Eb) is a unit of digital information equal to 1018 bits, or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bits (one quintillion bits). It uses the standard SI decimal prefix 'exa-'.
A bit, short for binary digit, is the most fundamental and smallest unit of data in computing, digital communications, and information theory. It represents a logical state containing one of two possible values. These values are most often represented as 0 or 1, but can also be interpreted as true/false, yes/no, on/off, or any other two mutually exclusive states. All digital information, from simple text to complex video, is ultimately composed of bits.
Note: The Exabit is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Bit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Exabit and Bit
The prefix 'exa-' (representing 1018) was adopted as an SI prefix by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1975. Its application to the bit (exabit) followed the increasing need to quantify extremely large amounts of digital information and data transfer rates in telecommunications and large-scale networking.
The concept and term "bit" were formalized in the mid-20th century.
- Coined: John W. Tukey is credited with shortening "binary digit" to "bit" in a Bell Labs memo dated January 9, 1947.
- Popularized: Claude E. Shannon, the father of information theory, extensively used the term in his groundbreaking 1948 paper, "A Mathematical Theory of Communication." Shannon established the bit as the basic unit for quantifying information and communication channel capacity.
- Early Computing: The earliest computers relied directly on representing and manipulating individual bits using technologies like electromechanical relays, vacuum tubes, and later, transistors.
Common Uses for exabits and bits
Explore the typical applications for both Exabit (imperial/US) and Bit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for exabits
Exabits are used to measure very large volumes of data, typically in contexts such as:
- Total global internet traffic over extended periods (e.g., annually).
- Aggregate data transfer across major international network backbones.
- Theoretical capacities of future large-scale data storage systems or networks.
- High-level discussions of data generated by large scientific projects (like particle physics or astronomy).
It is less common in consumer contexts compared to smaller units like gigabits or terabits.
Common Uses for bits
Bits are the bedrock upon which the digital world is built. Key applications include:
- Representing Binary Data: Encoding all forms of digital information, including numbers, text characters (via standards like ASCII or Unicode), images, and sound.
- Boolean Logic: Representing true/false values in logical operations within computer processors and software.
- Information Measurement: Quantifying information content and entropy, as defined by Shannon.
- Data Transfer Rates: Measuring the speed of data transmission over networks (e.g., internet speed) or between computer components, typically expressed in kilobits per second (kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps).
- Data Storage Capacity: While storage is often measured in bytes (groups of 8 bits), the underlying capacity is based on the number of bits a medium can store.
- Processor Architecture: Defining the amount of data a CPU can process at once (e.g., 32-bit or 64-bit processors refers to the width of their data registers and buses).
- Error Detection and Correction: Using parity bits and more complex coding schemes to ensure data integrity during transmission or storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Exabit (Eb)
How many bits are in an exabit?
There are 1018 (one quintillion, or 1 followed by 18 zeros) bits in 1 exabit (Eb).
How many petabits (Pb) are in an exabit (Eb)?
There are 1,000 petabits (Pb) in 1 exabit (Eb), since 'peta-' represents 1015 and 'exa-' represents 1018.
What is the difference between an exabit (Eb) and an exabyte (EB)?
An exabit (Eb) measures data in bits, while an exabyte (EB) measures data in bytes. Since 1 byte typically equals 8 bits, 1 exabyte (EB) is equal to 8 exabits (Eb).
What is the difference between an exabit (Eb) and an exbibit (Eib)?
An exabit (Eb) uses the decimal prefix 'exa-' (1018 bits). An exbibit (Eib) uses the binary prefix 'exbi-' (260 bits). An exbibit is significantly larger than an exabit (approximately 1.15 Eb). Exbibits are used when specifically referring to powers-of-2 multiples in computing contexts.
About Bit (b)
How many bits are in a byte?
By the most widely accepted standard in modern computing, there are 8 bits in 1 byte. A byte is often the smallest addressable unit of memory in computer architecture.
What's the difference between a bit and a byte?
A bit is the smallest single unit of data (a 0 or 1). A byte is a collection of bits, typically 8 bits. Bytes are commonly used to represent characters, measure file sizes, and quantify computer memory or storage capacity (e.g., kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB)). Data transfer speeds, however, are often measured in bits per second (kbps, Mbps, Gbps).
What does a bit physically represent?
In digital electronics, a bit's value (0 or 1) is typically represented by a physical state, such as:
- Different voltage levels (e.g., low voltage for 0, high voltage for 1).
- The presence or absence of electrical current.
- Different states of magnetic polarization on a disk.
- The reflection or non-reflection of light from a point on an optical disc (like a CD or DVD).
Why is it called a 'binary' digit?
It's called "binary" because it belongs to a base-2 number system. Unlike the familiar decimal (base-10) system which uses ten digits (0-9), the binary system uses only two digits: 0 and 1.
How are bits used in measuring internet speed?
Internet speed, or data transfer rate, measures how quickly data can move from one point to another. This is typically measured in bits per second (bps) or multiples like kbps (kilobits per second), Mbps (megabits per second), and Gbps (gigabits per second). A higher number means faster data transfer. For example, a 100 Mbps connection can transfer 100 million bits every second.
Is a bit the absolute smallest unit of data?
Yes, in the context of classical computing and digital information theory, the bit is considered the most fundamental and indivisible unit of information.
Conversion Table: Exabit to Bit
Exabit (Eb) | Bit (b) |
---|---|
1 | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
5 | 5,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
10 | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
25 | 25,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
50 | 50,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
100 | 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
500 | 500,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
1,000 | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
All Data Storage Conversions
Other Units from Data Storage
- Byte (B)
- Kilobit (kb)
- Kilobyte (KB)
- Megabit (Mb)
- Megabyte (MB)
- Gigabit (Gb)
- Gigabyte (GB)
- Terabit (Tb)
- Terabyte (TB)
- Petabit (Pb)
- Petabyte (PB)
- Exabyte (EB)
- Kibibit (Kib)
- Kibibyte (KiB)
- Mebibit (Mib)
- Mebibyte (MiB)
- Gibibit (Gib)
- Gibibyte (GiB)
- Tebibit (Tib)
- Tebibyte (TiB)
- Pebibit (Pib)
- Pebibyte (PiB)
- Exbibit (Eib)
- Exbibyte (EiB)