CalcunautData Conversion
Data Converter
Convert Data Units
Convert between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, and more
Table of Contents
Interactive Data Explorer
Explore Data Units
Slide to see relative sizes of data units
B1.00e+0
KB1.00e-3
MB1.00e-6
GB1.00e-9
TB1.00e-12
PB1.00e-15
Data Conversion Formulas
| Conversion | Formula |
|---|---|
| Bytes to Kilobytes | KB = B ÷ 1024 |
| Kilobytes to Megabytes | MB = KB ÷ 1024 |
| Megabytes to Gigabytes | GB = MB ÷ 1024 |
| Gigabytes to Terabytes | TB = GB ÷ 1024 |
| Terabytes to Petabytes | PB = TB ÷ 1024 |
Interesting Data Facts
- The first hard drive, IBM's RAMAC 305, could store about 5 MB of data and weighed over a ton.
- A single human brain can store about 2.5 petabytes of data.
- As of 2021, over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every single day.
- The average smartphone user consumes about 11 GB of mobile data per month.
- Google processes about 20 petabytes of data per day.
- The entire written works of mankind, in all languages, from the beginning of recorded history would take up about 50 petabytes.
Data Knowledge Quiz
Test your data storage knowledge with our interactive quiz!
History of Data Storage
- 1951: First commercial computer with magnetic tape storage (UNIVAC I)
- 1956: IBM introduces the first hard disk drive (RAMAC 305)
- 1963: First compact cassette introduced by Philips
- 1971: First floppy disk introduced by IBM
- 1980: First optical digital audio disc (CD) demonstrated by Philips and Sony
- 1994: Zip drive introduced by Iomega
- 2000: First USB flash drive sold commercially
- 2006: First 1TB hard drive introduced by Hitachi
- 2010s: Cloud storage becomes widely adopted
Real-World Data Capacities
| Device/Medium | Typical Capacity |
|---|---|
| DVD | 4.7 GB |
| Blu-ray Disc | 25 GB (single layer), 50 GB (dual layer) |
| USB Flash Drive | 8 GB - 1 TB |
| Smartphone | 64 GB - 512 GB |
| Laptop SSD | 256 GB - 2 TB |
| Cloud Storage (personal) | 2 GB - 2 TB |
Data Transfer Speeds
| Connection Type | Typical Speed |
|---|---|
| USB 2.0 | 480 Mbps |
| USB 3.0 | 5 Gbps |
| USB 3.1 (Gen 2) | 10 Gbps |
| SATA III | 6 Gbps |
| Thunderbolt 3 | 40 Gbps |
| 5G (theoretical max) | 20 Gbps |
Glossary of Data Terms
- Bit
- The smallest unit of data in computing, representing a single binary value (0 or 1).
- Byte
- A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.
- Bandwidth
- The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path.
- Latency
- The time delay between the moment something is initiated and the moment its first effect begins.
- Cloud Storage
- A model of computer data storage in which digital data is stored in logical pools across multiple servers.