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The basic unit of computer data is the bit. A bit, which stands for "binary digit," is the smallest unit of data in computing and can represent a value of either 0 or 1. This binary system is foundational to all forms of digital communication and computation.
When bits are grouped together, they form larger units of data. For instance, a byte is typically made up of 8 bits and is the standard unit used to represent a character in computer systems, such as a letter or digit. While kilobytes and megabytes are also measurements of data, they are larger quantities that are built upon bytes; therefore, they are not considered basic units of data themselves.
Understanding that the bit is the smallest unit supports the foundation of how data is processed and represented within computer systems.