YB to Ebit converter

What are yottabytes, exabits, and their variants?

A yottabyte (YB) represents one of the largest decimal data units, equivalent to 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (10²⁴ bytes). Its binary counterpart, the yobibyte (YiB), equals 1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176 bytes (2⁸⁰ bytes). An exabit (Ebit) is a decimal unit for data transfer rates or storage capacity, comprising 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bits (10¹⁸ bits). The binary equivalent, exbibit (Eibit), is 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bits (2⁶⁰ bits). These units quantify data at planetary or cosmic scales—for example, the entire internet was estimated at ~1 YB in 2022.

Decimal (SI) vs. binary (IEC) measurement systems

Two standards govern data measurement:

• Decimal (SI) system: Uses base-10 multiples (kilo, mega, giga, etc.). Common in networking, storage marketing, and scientific contexts.
  $1\ \text{YB} = 10^{24}\ \text{bytes} \quad ; \quad 1\ \text{Ebit} = 10^{18}\ \text{bits}$
• Binary (IEC) system: Uses base-2 multiples (kibi, mebi, gibi, etc.). Preferred in computing and memory design.
  $1\ \text{YiB} = 2^{80}\ \text{bytes} \quad ; \quad 1\ \text{Eibit} = 2^{60}\ \text{bits}$
  Confusion arises because 1 YiB ≈ 1.2089 YB—a 20.89% difference. This discrepancy stems from historical use of decimal terms for binary quantities.

Core conversion formulas

Conversions require two steps: adjusting for unit magnitude (bytes to yotta/exa) and converting bytes to bits (×8).

YB to Ebit (SI units):

YiB to Eibit (IEC units):

Cross-system conversions (e.g., YB to Eibit):

Step-by-step calculation examples

Example 1: Convert 5 YB to Ebit (SI units)

Context: If 5 YB represents all global data in 2025 (projected), transmitting it over a 1 Ebit/s link would take 40 million seconds (~1.27 years).

Example 2: Convert 3 YiB to Eibit (IEC units)

Context: 3 YiB could store ~3 trillion HD movies. At 25 million Eibit, transferring this via PCIe 7.0 (0.5 Eibit/s) would take ~50 million seconds (1.6 years).

Example 3: Convert 0.2 YB to Eibit (cross-system)

Note: Cross-system conversions highlight measurement inconsistencies—e.g., 0.2 YB ≠ 0.2 YiB.

Historical context: why two systems exist?

Early computing used SI prefixes for binary quantities (e.g., 1 KB = 1,024 bytes). By the 1990s, hard drives adopted decimal units, creating confusion. The IEC introduced binary prefixes (kibi, mebi, etc.) in 1998 to resolve this. Today:

• Storage manufacturers use SI units (e.g., 1 TB SSD = 10¹² bytes).
• Operating systems use binary units (e.g., Windows shows 1 TB drive as 931 GiB).
• Scientific research (e.g., CERN’s data) uses SI for consistency.

Practical considerations for conversions

1. Precision loss: Cross-system conversions involve irrational numbers. Round outputs to 3–4 significant digits.
2. Data transmission: Always specify bits (Ebit) for bandwidth and bytes (YB) for storage.
3. Real-world relevance:
   • 1 YB could store 100 years of 4K video from 10 billion cameras.
   • Global internet traffic reached ~3.4 ZB (0.0034 YB) in 2023.

Frequently asked questions

How many exabits are in 0.05 yottabytes using the SI system?

Apply the SI formula:

This equals 400,000 exabits.

Why is 1 YiB larger than 1 YB?

Binary units grow by powers of 2 (1 YiB = 1,024 ZiB), while decimal units use powers of 10 (1 YB = 1,000 ZB). Since 1,024 > 1,000, binary units are larger at the same prefix level.

When should I use Eibit instead of Ebit?

Use Eibit when measuring:

• Memory bandwidth (e.g., GPU memory interfaces)
• Data processed by CPUs/GPUs
• File sizes in Linux/macOS terminal outputs
  Use Ebit for network hardware specs or telecom standards.

Can I convert directly from YB to Eibit?

Yes, but the formula accounts for both magnitude and system differences:

For 0.01 YB: 90,071,992,547,409.9 Eibit.