What is a group of eight bits called?

A group of eight bits is called a byte. This terminology is fundamental in computer science and data processing, as it represents the standard unit of digital information. Each bit in this group can have a value of 0 or 1, and when combined into a byte, they can represent 256 different values (from 0 to 255).

The significance of a byte extends beyond its basic definition; it serves as a fundamental building block for data storage and processing in computing systems. For instance, characters in text (such as letters and symbols) are often encoded using bytes, with various encoding schemes like ASCII or UTF-8.

Understanding the role of a byte is crucial for grasping how data is processed, stored, and transmitted in modern computing systems. The concept of a byte also lays the groundwork for understanding larger data structures, such as kilobytes, megabytes, and beyond, which are all based on increments of bytes.