Kilobyte to Exabit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert kilobytes to exabits with our free online data storage converter.
Kilobyte to Exabit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilobyte).
- The converted value in Exabit 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 Kilobyte to Exabit
Converting Kilobyte to Exabit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Kilobyte = 8.0000e-15 exabits
Example Calculation:
Convert 10 kilobytes: 10 × 8.0000e-15 = 8.0000e-14 exabits
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 Kilobyte and a Exabit?
A kilobyte (KB) is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The International System of Units (SI) defines the prefix kilo as 1000 (103); therefore, one kilobyte is 1000 bytes.
However, the term is also widely used in computing contexts to represent 1024 (210) bytes. This usage technically refers to a kibibyte (KiB), a unit defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specifically for binary multiples.
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-'.
Note: The Kilobyte is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Exabit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Kilobyte and Exabit
Early computer memory was often organized in powers of two, making 1024 a convenient multiplier for calculations. This led to the common but conflicting use of "kilobyte" to mean 1024 bytes. To resolve this ambiguity, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced binary prefixes (kibi-, mebi-, gibi-, etc.) in 1998. This standard designated KiB specifically for 1024 bytes and reaffirmed KB strictly for 1000 bytes. Despite the standard, adoption varies, and the dual usage sometimes causes confusion, particularly in marketing versus operating system reporting.
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.
Common Uses for kilobytes and exabits
Explore the typical applications for both Kilobyte (imperial/US) and Exabit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for kilobytes
The kilobyte (KB), representing 1000 bytes, is commonly used for:
- Measuring the size of small files (e.g., plain text documents, configuration files, simple icons).
- Quantifying cache sizes in processors (though sometimes KiB might be implied).
- Specifying data transfer rates in kilobytes per second (KB/s) in some contexts (though kilobits per second, kbps, is more common for network speeds).
- Used by some storage device manufacturers (like hard drives, SSDs, USB drives) to define capacity based on the decimal system.
The informal use representing 1024 bytes (correctly KiB) appeared frequently in:
- Quantifying early computer memory capacity.
- Reporting file sizes or disk space by some older operating systems or software.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Kilobyte (KB)
How many bytes are in a kilobyte?
According to the official SI standard, 1 kilobyte (KB) = 1000 bytes. However, historically and in some computing contexts (especially relating to RAM or older software), "kilobyte" was informally used to mean 1024 bytes. The correct term for 1024 bytes is 1 kibibyte (KiB). Always check the context or look for the specific symbol (KB vs. KiB) if precision is important.
What is the difference between KB and KiB?
- KB (kilobyte): Based on the decimal prefix 'kilo-', meaning 1000 bytes (103 bytes). This is the SI standard.
- KiB (kibibyte): Based on the binary prefix 'kibi-', meaning 1024 bytes (210 bytes). This is the IEC standard for binary multiples.
A kibibyte (KiB) is 2.4% larger than a kilobyte (KB) (1 KiB = 1.024 KB). Using KiB when referring to 1024 bytes avoids ambiguity.
Is a megabyte 1000 or 1024 kilobytes?
Similar confusion exists for larger units. Following the standards:
- A megabyte (MB) is 1000 kilobytes (KB), which equals 1,000,000 bytes (1000 * 1000).
- A mebibyte (MiB) is 1024 kibibytes (KiB), which equals 1,048,576 bytes (1024 * 1024).
Manufacturers often use MB (decimal) for capacity, while operating systems might use MiB (binary) or ambiguously use MB to mean MiB, leading to apparent discrepancies in storage size.
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.
Conversion Table: Kilobyte to Exabit
Kilobyte (KB) | Exabit (Eb) |
---|---|
1 | 0 |
5 | 0 |
10 | 0 |
25 | 0 |
50 | 0 |
100 | 0 |
500 | 0 |
1,000 | 0 |
All Data Storage Conversions
Other Units from Data Storage
- Bit (b)
- Byte (B)
- Kilobit (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)