Storage capacity and file size
Storage capacities and file sizes are measured (from lowest to highest) in:
- bits
- bytes
- kilobytes
- megabytes
- gigabytes
- terabytes
An operating systemThe software that manages the hardware and software resources in a computer system. abbreviates these measurements, eg 1 megabyte becomes 1MB (megabyte).
Relationship between measurements
The table below outlines the relationship between bits (smallest) and terabytes (largest):
| Size | Equal to |
| 8 bits | 1 byte |
| 1000 bytes | 1 kilobyte |
| 1000 kilobytes | 1 megabyte |
| 1000 megabytes | 1 gigabyte |
| 1000 gigabytes | 1 terabyte |
| Size | 8 bits |
|---|---|
| Equal to | 1 byte |
| Size | 1000 bytes |
|---|---|
| Equal to | 1 kilobyte |
| Size | 1000 kilobytes |
|---|---|
| Equal to | 1 megabyte |
| Size | 1000 megabytes |
|---|---|
| Equal to | 1 gigabyte |
| Size | 1000 gigabytes |
|---|---|
| Equal to | 1 terabyte |
The size of a file and a storage device's capacity will always be written in its simplest form. For example, an operating system would report a 1 terabyte hard disk driveA device used to store large amounts of data. size as 1TB not as 1000GB, although both are correct.
Example file sizes
The table below lists files commonly found on a computer and their typical file size (compressed):
| File | File size |
| Photo | 3MB |
| Song | 5MB |
| Film | 1-1.5GB |
| File | Photo |
|---|---|
| File size | 3MB |
| File | Song |
|---|---|
| File size | 5MB |
| File | Film |
|---|---|
| File size | 1-1.5GB |
A file鈥檚 size can be influenced by a number of factors but ultimately the more information a file stores, the larger it will be.