We always try in the world of computers to explain to you the most important technical terms mentioned in our articles or discussed among friends. Therefore, we periodically publish a topic entitled “Technical Terms” in which we try to explain the differences between many famous terms. Today, we will share with you the difference between Megabyte and Megabit as there is a significant difference between them and many people confuse them. So, let’s continue.
Firstly, you should know the basic difference between Megabyte and Megabit. Megabyte is used to measure file size, while Megabit is used to measure internet speed. This is the fundamental difference between them. Let’s explain this in more detail – your computer operates on a binary system where all actions are translated into 0s and 1s. Each digit is a bit, and every eight bits make up one byte.
Each character or number you type on the computer equals 1 byte = 8 bits. The term “Mega” preceding them is the result of multiplying 1024 by 1024. Why 1024 and not 1000? Simply because the computer operates on a binary system and 1024 is a multiple of the number 2, which is closest to 1000. Therefore, one Megabyte equals a million bytes, just as one Megabit equals a million bits. Based on this, if you know that one byte equals eight bits, you can also say that one Megabyte equals 8 Megabits.
So, why use Megabytes to measure file size instead of Megabits? The answer is simple – Megabytes are larger and easier to understand. For example, it’s easier to say the size of a file is 1 Megabyte rather than 8 Megabits. Additionally, computers can easily compile and reduce bits to bytes to minimize the data input. This is the difference between Megabytes (MB) and Megabits (Mb). This distinction can also be used to determine the actual download speed you get after subscribing to an internet speed. For example, if you have a 1 Megabit internet speed, you can make a simple calculation: 1 x 1024 divided by 8 equals approximately 130, which is the download speed you will receive.
