Convert Between Units of Computer Data Rate
Computer data rate describes how fast data moves from one place to another. It shows up in internet speeds, networking, storage interfaces, and communications links. Common units include bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), gigabits per second (Gbps), and sometimes bytes per second (B/s). Converting data rates helps when comparing ISP plans, router specs, or transfer benchmarks that mix bits and bytes.
About Computer Data Rate Conversions
Helpful context and notes for converting Computer Data Rate units.
The most common confusion is bits versus bytes. Network speeds are usually advertised in bits per second, while file sizes and storage tools are usually bytes. Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, an 800 Mbps link has a theoretical maximum of about 100 MB/s before overhead. Also note the difference between decimal and binary prefixes: networking commonly uses decimal (1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bps) while some software tools report binary-style values. Overhead from protocols, encryption, and Wi-Fi conditions can reduce real throughput.
Practical tip: if you are estimating download time, convert the file size to bits or convert the link speed to bytes per second, then apply time = size / rate. For quick checks, divide Mbps by 8 to get approximate MB/s, then subtract some margin for overhead. If a speed looks great on paper but slow in practice, it is often latency, congestion, or protocol overhead rather than a unit conversion issue.
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Fun Fact
The Trans-Siberian Railway spans 5,771 miles - long enough to make you rethink complaining about your commute.
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