Mebibyte
Encyclopedia
The mebibyte is a multiple of the unit byte
for digital information
. The binary prefix
mebi means 220, therefore 1 mebibyte is . The unit symbol for the mebibyte is MiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) in 2000 and has been accepted for use by all major standards organizations. It was designed to replace the megabyte
used in some computer science contexts to mean 220 bytes, which is similar to but conflicts with the SI
definition of the prefix mega (106).
The prefix mebi is a binary prefix
derived from the words mega and binary, indicating its origin in the closeness in value to the SI prefix
mega. One mebibyte (MiB) is 220 (i.e., 1024 x 1024) bytes, or . One MiB differs from one megabyte
(MB), which means 106 (i.e. 1000 x 1000 = ).
Mebibyte is not commonly used. Instead, megabyte is often used to mean 1000 x 1000, 1024 x 1024, and even 1000 x 1024 bytes. Such usage can be confusing and inconsistent. For example, Microsoft's Windows XP
operating system
shows a file of 220 bytes as "1.00 MB" in its file properties dialog
, while showing a file of 106 bytes as 976 KB; but Apple's Mac OS X
10.6 would report a 106 byte file as 1 MB.
The mebi- prefix was defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) in December 1998. Its use (and related units) is presently endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) and the International Committee for Weights and Measures
(CIPM) in contexts where use of a binary prefix
makes sense.
In The Art of Computer Programming
, Donald Knuth
proposed that the mebibyte be called a large megabyte (abbreviated MMB).
Byte
The byte is a unit of digital information in computing and telecommunications that most commonly consists of eight bits. Historically, a byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the basic addressable element in many computer...
for digital information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
. The binary prefix
Binary prefix
In computing, a binary prefix is a specifier or mnemonic that is prepended to the units of digital information, the bit and the byte, to indicate multiplication by a power of 2...
mebi means 220, therefore 1 mebibyte is . The unit symbol for the mebibyte is MiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission
International Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology"...
(IEC) in 2000 and has been accepted for use by all major standards organizations. It was designed to replace the megabyte
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
used in some computer science contexts to mean 220 bytes, which is similar to but conflicts with the SI
International System of Units
The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system and is generally a system of units of measurement devised around seven base units and the convenience of the number ten. The older metric system included several groups of units...
definition of the prefix mega (106).
Definition
- 1 MiB = 220 byteByteThe byte is a unit of digital information in computing and telecommunications that most commonly consists of eight bits. Historically, a byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the basic addressable element in many computer...
s = 1024 kibibyteKibibyteThe kibibyte is a multiple of the unit byte for quantities of digital information. The binary prefix kibi means 1024; therefore, 1 kibibyte is . The unit symbol for the kibibyte is KiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1999 and has been accepted for use...
s =
The prefix mebi is a binary prefix
Binary prefix
In computing, a binary prefix is a specifier or mnemonic that is prepended to the units of digital information, the bit and the byte, to indicate multiplication by a power of 2...
derived from the words mega and binary, indicating its origin in the closeness in value to the SI prefix
SI prefix
The International System of Units specifies a set of unit prefixes known as SI prefixes or metric prefixes. An SI prefix is a name that precedes a basic unit of measure to indicate a decadic multiple or fraction of the unit. Each prefix has a unique symbol that is prepended to the unit symbol...
mega. One mebibyte (MiB) is 220 (i.e., 1024 x 1024) bytes, or . One MiB differs from one megabyte
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
(MB), which means 106 (i.e. 1000 x 1000 = ).
Mebibyte is not commonly used. Instead, megabyte is often used to mean 1000 x 1000, 1024 x 1024, and even 1000 x 1024 bytes. Such usage can be confusing and inconsistent. For example, Microsoft's Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
shows a file of 220 bytes as "1.00 MB" in its file properties dialog
Dialog box
In a graphical user interface of computers, a dialog box is a type of window used to enable reciprocal communication or "dialog" between a computer and its user. It may communicate information to the user, prompt the user for a response, or both...
, while showing a file of 106 bytes as 976 KB; but Apple's Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
10.6 would report a 106 byte file as 1 MB.
History
Confusion in the meaning of megabyte was evident for many years. For instance, the 1.44 MB floppy disk's storage capacity was calculated using per "MB" (i.e. 1.44×1024×1000), rather than 1.47 MB (1.47×1000×1000) or 1.40 MiB (1.40×1024×1024).The mebi- prefix was defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission
International Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology"...
(IEC) in December 1998. Its use (and related units) is presently endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
(IEEE) and the International Committee for Weights and Measures
International Committee for Weights and Measures
The Interglobal Committee for Weights and Measures is the English name of the Comité international des poids et mesures . It consists of eighteen persons from Member States of the Metre Convention...
(CIPM) in contexts where use of a binary prefix
Binary prefix
In computing, a binary prefix is a specifier or mnemonic that is prepended to the units of digital information, the bit and the byte, to indicate multiplication by a power of 2...
makes sense.
In The Art of Computer Programming
The Art of Computer Programming
The Art of Computer Programming is a comprehensive monograph written by Donald Knuth that covers many kinds of programming algorithms and their analysis....
, Donald Knuth
Donald Knuth
Donald Ervin Knuth is a computer scientist and Professor Emeritus at Stanford University.He is the author of the seminal multi-volume work The Art of Computer Programming. Knuth has been called the "father" of the analysis of algorithms...
proposed that the mebibyte be called a large megabyte (abbreviated MMB).