The smallest addressable unit of memory is

The smallest addressable unit of memory is

bit
byte
word
nibble
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UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2024
In most modern computer architectures, the smallest addressable unit of memory is a byte. Memory addresses are typically assigned to individual bytes, allowing programs to access or modify memory one byte at a time.
– A byte consists of 8 bits.
– While a bit is the fundamental unit of digital information (0 or 1), it is usually not directly addressable in memory. Access is typically at the byte level or larger units like words.
– A nibble is a group of 4 bits, which is half a byte. It’s a useful concept in some contexts but not a standard addressable unit.
– A word is a native unit of data used by a particular processor design. Its size varies (e.g., 16, 32, 64 bits) and is typically aligned on byte boundaries.
– Understanding the smallest addressable unit is fundamental to understanding memory organization and pointers in programming.
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