How many bits are there in a byte?

A byte consists of 8 bits, which is a fundamental unit of digital information used in computing and telecommunications. This standard size allows for the representation of 256 different values, which is crucial for encoding data such as characters in text. For example, in ASCII encoding, each character is represented by a unique 8-bit binary number.

The size of a byte being 8 bits is universally recognized in the field of computer science and information technology. It serves as the building block for larger data types, where multiple bytes are grouped together to represent more complex data structures and information. Thus, understanding that a byte equals 8 bits is essential for anyone working in IT or studying related fields.