53 ms·
8 bits is just a convention. 6 and 9 bit bytes were common until the 1980s. Standards still say octet or specify 8 bit bytes. ISO and IEC standards defined a b
by pseudalopex 6y ago
8 bits is just a convention. 6 and 9 bit bytes were common until the 1980s. Standards still say octet or specify 8 bit bytes.
ISO and IEC standards defined a byte as 8 bits in the 1990s. But they also defined kilo and mega as powers of 10.
Powers of 2 were never used exclusively.
- argvargc 6y agoPowers of 2 remain fundamental to bits regardless of how many bits are grouped together. I've only made the correct claim that the logical continuance the employment of powers of 2 into units of scale was sufficiently widespread as to be considered convention, something those who created the standards you cite also readily acknowledge.