A byte is a basic unit of digital information used in computing and telecommunications. It typically consists of 8 bits, where each bit is a binary digit that can be either 0 or 1. Bytes are used to represent a wide range of data, including characters in text, colors in images, and sound in audio files. For example, the letter "A" is stored as a specific byte in a computer's memory. Bytes are essential for understanding how computers process and store information. When you download a file, the size is often measured in bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB). This measurement helps users gauge how much storage space is needed on devices like smartphones, tablets, or computers.