Bytes72

Bytes72 is a non-standard data size used in informal contexts to denote exactly 72 consecutive bytes of data. It is not an official unit recognized by standards organizations, and its meaning is defined only by the specific context in which it is used.

As a size, 72 bytes equals 576 bits. In hexadecimal, it is represented by 144 hex digits. When encoded in base64, 72 bytes encode to 96 characters, with no padding required because 72 is a multiple of 3.

Typical usages include describing fixed-size payloads in custom protocols, test vectors for cryptographic algorithms, or generic documentation examples. It may appear in code comments or datasets as a convenient shorthand for a specific block length, rather than as a formal measurement.

Bytes72 can be related to other fixed sizes by noting that it comprises nine 8-byte words, or nine 64-bit words, depending on interpretation. It sits between more common fixed sizes such as 64 bytes and 128 bytes, and it is sometimes chosen to illustrate calculations or algorithm iterations with a modest, round-number block length.

Because bytes72 is informal, it is important to avoid ambiguity in technical communication by specifying the exact size in bytes and, if relevant, its unit context (bits, words, or blocks). See also: Byte, Kilobyte, Binary prefixes, Block size.