Megabyte (MB)
The megabyte, symbolized as MB, is equal to 1,000,000 bytes in the decimal (SI) system, although in computing, it is often regarded as 1,048,576 bytes (1,024 KB). The term emerged in the 1960s as computers and storage capacity increased, making kilobytes insufficient for describing larger files. Megabytes are used for text, images, and small software applications, providing a human-readable scale for digital data capacity while bridging metric and binary conventions.
Kibibyte (KiB)
The kibibyte, symbol KiB, is a binary unit equal to 1,024 bytes, introduced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 1998. The unit addresses the difference between metric kilobytes (1,000 bytes) and binary kilobytes (1,024 bytes) in digital systems. Kibibytes are used in operating systems, file systems, and technical documentation for precise, unambiguous measurement. This clarity supports accurate handling of digital memory and storage.