Essential Digital Skills Level 1

111 videos, 7 hours and 55 minutes

Course Content

Computer file sizes

Video 51 of 111
1 min 48 sec
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Understanding Computer File Sizes

Basic Units of Measurement

Computer data is measured in bytes. Here is a breakdown of the basic units:

  • 1,000 bytes = 1 kilobyte (KB)
  • 1,000 kilobytes = 1 megabyte (MB)
  • 1,000 megabytes = 1 gigabyte (GB)
  • 1,000 gigabytes = 1 terabyte (TB)

Understanding File Sizes

When looking at file sizes, it's important to understand the differences between these units. For example, a file that is 100 KB is significantly smaller than a file that is 1 MB. Similarly, files measured in gigabytes are much larger and can consume significant storage space on your computer.

Impact on Storage

Files that are several gigabytes in size will quickly use up storage space. It's essential to be aware of file sizes, especially if your computer has limited storage capacity. Large files can also affect the performance of your computer.

Impact on Data Transfer

Transferring large files over the internet can be slow and may exceed the maximum allowable size for some services. This is particularly important when sending files via email or using cloud storage solutions.

Email Attachments

When emailing documents, it's crucial to consider the size of the attachments. Most email services have limits on the size of files you can send. Here are some tips for managing email attachments:

  • Check the file size before attaching it to an email.
  • Most email services will notify you if a file is too large to send.
  • If a file is too large, consider using a file transfer service such as MailBigFile or WeTransfer.

Conclusion

Understanding file sizes and their implications is essential for managing your computer's storage and ensuring efficient data transfer. Always check the size of your files before sending them via email or uploading them to the internet to avoid issues with file limits and transfer times.

Learning Outcomes:
  • EDSQ Unit 1 LO 3.4