8byte

8byte is a term used in computing to denote a data unit consisting of eight consecutive bytes, equating to 64 bits. It is commonly used to store 64-bit values such as signed or unsigned integers and double-precision floating-point numbers, as well as other 64-bit quantities in digital systems. The 8-byte unit is fundamental in architectures that use 64-bit wide registers and address spaces, enabling large ranges of values and efficient arithmetic on modern CPUs.

The eight bytes can be arranged in memory in big-endian or little-endian order, affecting serialization and network transmission. In programming languages, 64-bit types are often named int64, long long, or uint64_t; Java uses long; Python integers are arbitrary-precision but can be constrained to 64 bits when needed. The choice of endianness matters when data is written to disk or transmitted over networks, requiring consistent interpretation across systems.

Applications and usage of 8-byte data span many areas. 8-byte fields appear in file formats and protocols to encode timestamps, unique identifiers, or fixed-precision numeric data. Many databases and programming interfaces provide 64-bit integer types for IDs and counters. In networking, 8-byte values may appear in binary headers, offsets, or timestamps and are transmitted as eight consecutive bytes. This unit also underpins 64-bit architectures, which support larger address spaces and improved performance for large-scale computations.

In addition to being a data unit, "8byte" may be used as a brand name or project designation. When encountered as a proper noun, the intended referent depends on context.