Definition of BYTE

byte

Plural: bytes

Noun

  • A unit of digital information, typically eight bits.
  • a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information
  • A short sequence of bits (binary digits) that can be operated on as a unit by a computer; the smallest usable machine word.
  • A unit of computing storage equal to eight bits, which can represent any of 256 distinct values.

Examples

  • Every BYTE of information he learned about Scrabble strategy improved his game.
  • The word “hello” fits into five bytes of ASCII code.

Origin / Etymology

An alteration of the word bite so it would not be accidentally misspelled as bit. Coined by Werner Buchholz in 1956, during the early design phase for the IBM 7030 Stretch computer.

Synonyms

B, octet

Scrabble Score: 9

byte: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
byte: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
byte: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

byte: valid Words With Friends Word