What is a Kilobyte? (KB)
Definition
A kilobyte (symbol: KB) is a unit of digital information equal to 1,024 bytes (2¹⁰). It is used to measure small files and data sizes. Text documents and simple images are typically measured in kilobytes. The prefix "kilo" normally means 1,000, but in computing the binary convention of 1,024 is used.
Common Uses
- › Small text file sizes
- › Email attachments
- › Simple web page sizes
- › Configuration and settings files
Converters
Key Facts
- SymbolKB
- CategoryData Storage
- 1 KB = 1,024 bytes
- 1,024 KB = 1 MB
- 1 KB = 8,192 bits
Related Terms
About the Kilobyte
A kilobyte (symbol: KB) is a unit of digital information equal to 1,024 bytes (2¹⁰). It is used to measure small files and data sizes. Text documents and simple images are typically measured in kilobytes. The prefix "kilo" normally means 1,000, but in computing the binary convention of 1,024 is used.
Equivalents and conversions
- 1 KB = 1,024 bytes
- 1,024 KB = 1 MB
- 1 KB = 8,192 bits