Octet, not byte: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "In general, we try to avoid using the term byte, because it is sometimes ambiguous, much like the term 'word' is. It is burden enough that the size of a word is machine-dependent, and since the size of a byte is too, let us dispense with it in favour of a term that is not: '''octet'''. Bytes are ''almost'' always 8 bits. Octets are ''always'' 8 bits. Sometimes hardware literature will take the liberty of using the term ''byte'' in their own given context. Let us not wr...") |
(rewrite, updated explanation and revised motivation) |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Some time ago in the early 2020s, I began to detest the use of the term ''byte'' to refer colloquially to 8-bit words. It felt imprecise but at the same time that was not the only reason I felt was why I disliked this. In late May of 2024 it occurred to me: '''octet''' is used to measure the ''distance'' or ''magnitude'' of data, whereas '''byte''', being deprecated for such use, instead remains only to denominate the ''mass'' or ''volume'' of data. | |||
In engineering contexts it is not yet immediately clear where octets begin or end and likewise with bytes, but as I endeavour to apply this piece of theory in my work on [[Sirius DOS]] and [[Byblos]] it will eventually become so. I will then author a formal theory that exactly elucidates the purpose of the distinction, and from there inspire people by identifying benefits of the idea. | |||
[[Category:Scathing screeds]][[Category:Rules of life]][[Category:Computing terminology]] | |||
[[Category:Scathing screeds]][[Category:Rules of life]] | |||
Latest revision as of 06:42, 26 October 2024
Some time ago in the early 2020s, I began to detest the use of the term byte to refer colloquially to 8-bit words. It felt imprecise but at the same time that was not the only reason I felt was why I disliked this. In late May of 2024 it occurred to me: octet is used to measure the distance or magnitude of data, whereas byte, being deprecated for such use, instead remains only to denominate the mass or volume of data.
In engineering contexts it is not yet immediately clear where octets begin or end and likewise with bytes, but as I endeavour to apply this piece of theory in my work on Sirius DOS and Byblos it will eventually become so. I will then author a formal theory that exactly elucidates the purpose of the distinction, and from there inspire people by identifying benefits of the idea.
