binaryprefix

Binaryprefix refers to a system of prefixes used in computing to denote powers of two. These prefixes are based on the binary representation of numbers, where each prefix corresponds to a specific multiplier that is a power of 2. This is in contrast to the SI (International System of Units) prefixes, which are based on powers of ten.

The most common binary prefixes are kilo, mega, giga, tera, peta, exa, zetta, and yotta. These prefixes, often referred to as IEC prefixes, were standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 1998. They are written with a trailing 'i' to distinguish them from their SI counterparts. For example, a kibibyte (KiB) is 1024 bytes (2^10 bytes), while a kilobyte (KB) is 1000 bytes (10^3 bytes). Similarly, a mebibyte (MiB) is 1024 kibibytes, and a gibibyte (GiB) is 1024 mebibytes.

The use of binary prefixes is prevalent in the fields of computer memory (RAM), data storage, and networking. While SI prefixes are often used for marketing purposes by hard drive manufacturers, for example, computer operating systems and software typically report capacities using binary prefixes. This discrepancy can lead to confusion regarding storage capacity. Understanding the difference between binary prefixes and SI prefixes is crucial for accurately interpreting data sizes and system specifications. The IEC prefixes ensure a consistent and unambiguous way to express quantities based on powers of two.