What is a byte?
A byte is a basic digital storage unit. One byte normally contains eight bits. Bytes describe file sizes, memory amounts, network payloads, and stored records. Small text files may use only a few thousand bytes. Photos, videos, and applications need far more.
What is a megabyte?
A decimal megabyte contains exactly 1,000,000 bytes. Storage manufacturers commonly use this definition. It follows the International System style, where each larger unit is one thousand times its predecessor. One thousand kilobytes form one megabyte.
MB versus MiB
A mebibyte contains exactly 1,048,576 bytes. Its symbol is MiB. Binary units increase by powers of 1024. A value expressed in MiB therefore differs from the same byte count expressed in MB. This calculator shows both values to prevent confusion.
Why operating systems show different sizes
Some operating systems calculate using binary factors but display decimal-looking labels. Storage packaging usually uses decimal factors. Formatting, file-system overhead, reserved space, and recovery partitions can reduce visible capacity further. These differences are expected and do not necessarily indicate missing storage.
Choosing precision and rounding
Standard rounding is suitable for everyday results. Round up when calculating conservative storage requirements. Round down when reporting completed whole units. Truncation removes additional digits without normal rounding. Maximum precision preserves more detail but may show floating-point limitations for extremely large values.
Using batch conversion
Batch mode accepts one number per line. It filters invalid entries, supports scientific notation, totals all valid values, and can remove duplicates. Sorting helps identify unusually large or small values. Download the table as CSV for spreadsheet analysis.
Local file inspection and privacy
The file inspector uses browser metadata. It reads file names, types, sizes, and modification dates. It does not transmit file contents through this page. Browser permissions still apply, and users should follow their organization’s data-handling policies.