| Multiples of bits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SI decimal prefixes | Binary usage |
IEC binary prefixes | ||
| Name (Symbol) |
Value | Name (Symbol) |
Value | |
| kilobit (kbit) | 103 | 210 | kibibit (Kibit) | 210 |
| megabit (Mbit) | 106 | 220 | mebibit (Mibit) | 220 |
| gigabit (Gbit) | 109 | 230 | gibibit (Gibit) | 230 |
| terabit (Tbit) | 1012 | 240 | tebibit (Tibit) | 240 |
| petabit (Pbit) | 1015 | 250 | pebibit (Pibit) | 250 |
| exabit (Ebit) | 1018 | 260 | exbibit (Eibit) | 260 |
| zettabit (Zbit) | 1021 | 270 | zebibit (Zibit) | 270 |
| yottabit (Ybit) | 1024 | 280 | yobibit (Yibit) | 280 |
| See also: Nibble · Byte · Multiples of bytes Orders of magnitude of data |
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The mebibit is a multiple of the bit, a unit of digital information storage, prefixed by the standards-based multiplier mebi (symbol Mi), a binary prefix meaning 220. The unit symbol of the mebibit is Mibit or Mib.
This unit is most useful for measuring RAM and ROM chip capacity.
The mebibit is closely related to the megabit which equals 106 bits = 1,000,000 bits, but is sometimes used to denote the mebibit value in traditional computer technology writing. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, video game manufacturers would sometimes report the amount of internal cartridge ROM (in megabits) on their packaging. 1 megabit equaled 128 kibibyte; 8 megabits were 1 mebibyte of ROM containing game instructions and data.
The binary prefixes are not part of the International System of Units (SI).