Gibibit to Byte Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert gibibits to bytes with our free online data storage converter.
Gibibit to Byte Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Gibibit).
- The converted value in Byte 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 Gibibit to Byte
Converting Gibibit to Byte involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Gibibit = 134217728 bytes
Example Calculation:
Convert 10 gibibits: 10 × 134217728 = 1342177280 bytes
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 Gibibit and a Byte?
A gibibit (Gib) is a unit of digital information equal to 230 bits, which is exactly 1,073,741,824 bits. It uses the binary prefix 'gibi-' established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The gibibit is closely related to the gigabit (Gb), which is defined using the decimal prefix 'giga-' (109 bits).
A byte is a unit of digital information that most commonly consists of 8 bits. Historically, the size of the byte has been hardware-dependent, but 8 bits is now universally accepted as the standard (also known as an octet).
Note: The Gibibit is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Byte belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Gibibit and Byte
The prefix 'gibi-' (representing 230) was defined by the IEC in 1998 along with other binary prefixes (kibi-, mebi-, tebi-, etc.). This standardization aimed to eliminate the confusion caused by using SI prefixes (like kilo-, mega-, giga-) to denote both powers of 1000 (decimal) and powers of 1024 (binary) in computing contexts. The term 'gibibit' specifically refers to the 230 multiple of bits.
The term "byte" was coined by Werner Buchholz in 1956 during the early design phase for the IBM Stretch computer. It originally described a group of bits used to encode a single character, with the size varying (often 4 to 6 bits). The 8-bit byte became standard with the introduction of the IBM System/360 in the 1960s.
Common Uses for gibibits and bytes
Explore the typical applications for both Gibibit (imperial/US) and Byte (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for gibibits
While less common in everyday usage than the gigabit (Gb) which is often used for network speeds (Gbps), the gibibit is important where binary precision is required:
- Specifying memory chip capacities at the bit level in technical documentation.
- Internal calculations within networking hardware or software that operate on binary multiples.
- Theoretical calculations in computer science, information theory, and data transmission analysis.
- Comparing binary (Gib) and decimal (Gb) data quantities accurately.
Common Uses for bytes
- Measuring file sizes (e.g., kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes).
- Representing single characters in character encoding systems (like ASCII, UTF-8).
- Quantifying computer memory (RAM) and storage capacity (hard drives, SSDs).
- Defining data types in programming languages (e.g.,
byte
,char
).
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Gibibit (Gib)
How many bits are in a gibibit?
There are exactly 230 bits in 1 gibibit (Gib). This equals 1,073,741,824 bits.
How many mebibits (Mib) are in a gibibit (Gib)?
There are 1,024 mebibits (Mib) in 1 gibibit (Gib). This is because 1 Gib = 230 bits and 1 Mib = 220 bits, and 230 / 220 = 210 = 1,024.
What is the difference between a gibibit (Gib) and a gigabit (Gb)?
A gibibit (Gib) represents 230 bits (1,073,741,824 bits), using the binary prefix 'gibi-'. A gigabit (Gb) represents 109 bits (1,000,000,000 bits), using the decimal prefix 'giga-'. A gibibit is approximately 7.37% larger than a gigabit (1 Gib ≈ 1.074 Gb).
What is the difference between a gibibit (Gib) and a gibibyte (GiB)?
A gibibit (Gib) measures information in bits, while a gibibyte (GiB) measures information in bytes. Assuming the standard 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 gibibyte (GiB) is equal to 8 gibibits (Gib). Both use the binary prefix 'gibi-' (230).
About Byte (B)
How many bits are in a byte?
There are 8 bits in one byte according to the modern standard.
What's the difference between a bit (b) and a byte (B)?
A bit is the smallest unit (0 or 1), while a byte is a group of 8 bits. Data storage is usually measured in Bytes (B, KB, MB, GB), while data transfer rates are often measured in bits (bps, kbps, Mbps).
How many values can a byte represent?
An 8-bit byte can represent 2^8 = 256 different values (from 0 to 255).
Why 8 bits?
The 8-bit standard emerged partly because it efficiently represents powers of 2 and accommodates encoding schemes like ASCII, which initially used 7 bits plus a parity bit.
Conversion Table: Gibibit to Byte
Gibibit (Gib) | Byte (B) |
---|---|
1 | 134,217,728 |
5 | 671,088,640 |
10 | 1,342,177,280 |
25 | 3,355,443,200 |
50 | 6,710,886,400 |
100 | 13,421,772,800 |
500 | 67,108,864,000 |
1,000 | 134,217,728,000 |
All Data Storage Conversions
Other Units from Data Storage
- Bit (b)
- Kilobit (kb)
- Kilobyte (KB)
- Megabit (Mb)
- Megabyte (MB)
- Gigabit (Gb)
- Gigabyte (GB)
- Terabit (Tb)
- Terabyte (TB)
- Petabit (Pb)
- Petabyte (PB)
- Exabit (Eb)
- Exabyte (EB)
- Kibibit (Kib)
- Kibibyte (KiB)
- Mebibit (Mib)
- Mebibyte (MiB)
- Gibibyte (GiB)
- Tebibit (Tib)
- Tebibyte (TiB)
- Pebibit (Pib)
- Pebibyte (PiB)
- Exbibit (Eib)
- Exbibyte (EiB)