If you are searching for how to translate KB, MB and GB, how to translate file size and storage units, or how to preserve bytes, bits, KiB, MiB, GiB and data-rate notation across languages, the first rule is that the abbreviation is part of the measurement. MB and Mb are not the same quantity, and GB and GiB do not necessarily use the same multiplier.
Digital-storage translation matters in software interfaces, cloud plans, phone specifications, computer manuals, download pages, backup systems, data-centre documentation, broadband advertising and technical support. A target-language sentence can become numerically wrong if it turns megabits into megabytes, converts decimal gigabytes into binary gibibytes without saying so, or confuses storage capacity with transfer speed.
This guide explains how to translate file sizes, storage capacities and data-rate units without changing the quantity. It covers bit versus byte notation, SI decimal prefixes, IEC binary prefixes, KB/MB/GB/TB, KiB/MiB/GiB/TiB, Mbps and MB/s, advertised versus usable capacity, compression, file-system overhead, rounding and how to verify the final translation mathematically.
Why digital size labels are not interchangeable
Digital quantities are compactly encoded. One letter can change the scale or the underlying unit, so capitalization and prefix choice matter more than they do in ordinary prose.
Two prefix systems also coexist. Decimal storage labels often use powers of 1000, while binary units such as KiB and GiB use powers of 1024. Some software historically displays binary quantities using decimal-looking abbreviations, which is why translation should preserve the source convention rather than “correcting” it casually.
Capacity and speed are different dimensions. A 500 GB drive stores data; a 500 Mbps connection transfers data at a rate. The same words “mega” or “giga” can appear in both, but the unit after them changes the meaning.
The safest workflow is to protect the numeric value and unit, identify the measurement convention, and translate only the surrounding explanatory language unless a conversion is explicitly required.
A reliable translation method
1. Identify bit or byte
Check capitalization and context. Lowercase b commonly means bit; uppercase B commonly means byte. Do not normalize case automatically.
2. Identify decimal or binary prefix
Determine whether the source uses KB/MB/GB/TB or the explicit IEC forms KiB/MiB/GiB/TiB. Preserve the convention unless the project calls for a verified conversion.
3. Separate capacity from rate
A storage quantity has units such as GB or GiB; a transfer rate may use Mbps, MB/s or Gbit/s. Keep the slash or “per second” relationship intact.
4. Protect numeric precision
Retain decimal places and rounding level unless the target style guide explicitly changes them. A rounded marketing capacity should not become an invented exact engineering value.
5. Keep advertised and usable capacity distinct
Formatted or system-reserved capacity may differ from the label on a device. Translate the explanation without implying that one figure is an error.
6. Preserve file-size limits
Upload caps, attachment limits and quota thresholds are operational constraints. Keep the same unit and inequality unless a tested conversion is supplied.
7. Convert only with a declared basis
If a target document requires another unit, state or internally track whether the conversion uses powers of 1000 or 1024 and round transparently.
8. Verify by calculation and interface context
Recalculate the target quantity and confirm that the operating system, product page or application uses the same unit convention.
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1. Bytes versus bits
This problem appears when the source distinguishes stored data from individual binary digits. A source item such as 8 MB versus 8 Mb can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve B/b capitalization and translate the labels around it. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, confirm the target does not make the two values look equivalent. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
2. Kilobytes
This problem appears when small files are measured in KB or kB. A source item such as 512 KB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep the source abbreviation convention. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, check whether the product uses decimal or historical binary interpretation. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
3. Megabytes
This problem appears when documents, apps or memory values are shown in MB. A source item such as 25 MB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve MB and numeric value unless conversion is required. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, compare application limit or file properties. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
4. Gigabytes
This problem appears when device storage is advertised in GB. A source item such as 256 GB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep the marketing unit and translate capacity wording. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not silently rewrite as GiB. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
5. Terabytes
This problem appears when large drives and cloud plans use TB. A source item such as 2 TB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve the unit system used by the source. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, check product specification. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
6. Kibibytes
This problem appears when the source explicitly uses IEC binary prefixes. A source item such as 512 KiB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep KiB rather than simplifying to KB. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, confirm the target font and style preserve the i. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
7. Mebibytes
This problem appears when memory or technical documentation uses MiB. A source item such as 1024 MiB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve the binary unit. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not turn it into 1024 MB unless conversion is requested. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
8. Gibibytes
This problem appears when software reports capacity in GiB. A source item such as 476 GiB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep GiB and explain if necessary. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, compare with the source system display. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
9. Tebibytes
This problem appears when large technical storage uses TiB. A source item such as 1.5 TiB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve the IEC unit and decimal precision. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, verify conversion only if another unit is added. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
10. Megabits per second
This problem appears when network speed is expressed as a bit rate. A source item such as 500 Mbps can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep lowercase b meaning bits and preserve per-second rate. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not translate it as 500 MB/s. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
11. Megabytes per second
This problem appears when file transfer or disk throughput is expressed in bytes. A source item such as 100 MB/s can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep uppercase B and rate notation. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, compare with source benchmark. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
12. Gigabits per second
This problem appears when high-speed networking uses Gbps or Gbit/s. A source item such as 10 Gbps can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve bit-rate meaning. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, check that target wording does not imply storage capacity. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
13. Upload limit
This problem appears when a service rejects files above a threshold. A source item such as Maximum file size 20 MB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Translate the instruction while preserving threshold and unit. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, test against application settings if possible. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
14. Email attachment limit
This problem appears when mail systems impose per-message or per-file caps. A source item such as 25 MB attachment limit can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep the correct scope and value. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, distinguish encoded message overhead if the source mentions it. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
15. Cloud quota
This problem appears when a subscription includes a storage allowance. A source item such as 100 GB storage can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve capacity unit and subscription meaning. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not confuse monthly transfer quota with storage. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
16. Data-transfer quota
This problem appears when hosting plans limit traffic rather than stored data. A source item such as 1 TB transfer per month can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Translate transfer/quota wording distinctly from storage. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, check billing period and unit. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
17. Advertised drive capacity
This problem appears when hardware packaging uses decimal units. A source item such as 1 TB SSD can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve advertised specification and any explanatory note about formatted capacity. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not describe OS-visible value as proof the source is wrong. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
18. Usable storage
This problem appears when system files or reserved partitions reduce space available to users. A source item such as approximately 230 GB available can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep usable/available qualifier. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, distinguish it from nominal device capacity. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
19. Compressed file size
This problem appears when archive size differs from uncompressed content. A source item such as ZIP 4.2 GB; extracted 12 GB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Keep both states and their values attached. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not merge them into one file-size figure. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
20. Memory versus storage
This problem appears when product pages list RAM and persistent storage together. A source item such as 16 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Translate memory and storage labels separately while preserving quantities. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, ensure the values do not swap rows. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
21. Decimal separator
This problem appears when target-language number formatting uses comma or point conventions. A source item such as 1.5 GB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Localize the separator only when the target style requires it and ambiguity is controlled. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, confirm 1.5 does not become 15. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
22. Rounding
This problem appears when interfaces show shortened capacities. A source item such as 1.46 GB can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Preserve displayed precision unless a documented target convention applies. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, recalculate before rounding. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
23. File-system overhead
This problem appears when formatting consumes capacity. A source item such as formatted capacity may be lower can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Translate the explanation rather than changing the manufacturer’s nominal value. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, keep physical capacity and usable volume conceptually separate. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
24. Bandwidth versus throughput
This problem appears when the source distinguishes theoretical link capacity from observed transfer. A source item such as 1 Gbps link / 850 Mbps throughput can represent a quantity, a unit standard, a transfer rate, an advertised capacity or a usable amount after formatting and system overhead. Translating the letters without understanding the measurement system can create an incorrect numerical claim even when the visible value stays unchanged.
Translate the technical distinction and preserve both rates. The translator should preserve the source unit system unless the project explicitly requires a verified conversion. Keep uppercase and lowercase letters exact because B commonly denotes bytes while b commonly denotes bits, and keep decimal and binary prefixes distinct where the source distinguishes them.
For quality assurance, do not collapse them into one speed claim. Then recalculate the quantity independently and compare the target label with the original product, operating-system display or technical documentation. The translated text should describe the same amount of data, the same capacity or the same data rate as the source.
Common failure modes
1. Changing B to b
Megabytes and megabits differ by a factor of eight. Capitalization can be numerically significant.
2. Replacing GB with GiB silently
Decimal and binary units are related but not identical. Conversion must be explicit and verified.
3. Confusing capacity with speed
GB is an amount; Gbps is a rate. Keep the dimensions separate.
4. Converting with the wrong multiplier
Using 1024 where the source uses 1000, or vice versa, changes the result.
5. Rounding before conversion
Premature rounding can accumulate error in large capacities.
6. Calling usable storage advertised capacity
Reserved system space and formatting can reduce user-visible capacity without changing the nominal hardware specification.
7. Dropping per-second notation
MB and MB/s are different quantities. Preserve the rate denominator.
8. Normalizing technical abbreviations for style
House style should not override the source measurement system unless the project explicitly requires conversion.
Worked practice
Practice 1: Cloud-plan page
Situation: 100 GB storage and 1 TB monthly transfer.
Reasoning: Keep storage and data-transfer quota separate and preserve both units.
Practice 2: Broadband advert
Situation: 500 Mbps download.
Reasoning: Keep lowercase b and per-second meaning; do not turn it into 500 MB/s.
Practice 3: Operating-system display
Situation: A drive marketed as 1 TB appears with a lower binary-style capacity in software.
Reasoning: Translate both figures according to their respective conventions rather than declaring one incorrect.
Practice 4: Upload form
Situation: Maximum file size 20 MB.
Reasoning: Preserve the operational threshold exactly and test the UI label.
Practice 5: Technical manual
Situation: Cache size 64 MiB.
Reasoning: Keep the IEC binary unit rather than simplifying it to MB.
Practice 6: Product page
Situation: 16 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD.
Reasoning: Translate the component labels while keeping each capacity in the correct row.
Practice 7: Archive download
Situation: Compressed 4.2 GB, extracted 12 GB.
Reasoning: Keep compressed and uncompressed states distinct.
Practice 8: Disk throughput
Situation: Sequential read 7000 MB/s.
Reasoning: Preserve uppercase B and per-second rate notation.
System reports, calculators and AI
Operating-system file properties, manufacturer specifications and application quota screens are strong evidence because they show the exact unit convention used in context.
A calculator is useful when conversion is explicitly requested, but the conversion basis must be known. Document whether the calculation uses decimal powers of 1000 or binary powers of 1024.
AI can explain the distinction between MB, Mb and MiB, but it may normalize abbreviations or perform conversions without stating the basis. Protect the source unit and independently verify arithmetic.
How this fits the wider eduKate translation system
Digital-size translation connects language to units, quantities and software behavior. The broader method is developed in Master Art of Translation | The Complete System for Moving Meaning Between Languages. Vocabulary depth connects to the Vocabulary Learning Hub, while numerical comparison, rate expressions and technical noun phrases connect to How English Works.
FAQ
Is MB the same as Mb?
No. MB commonly means megabytes; Mb commonly means megabits.
Is GB the same as GiB?
No. GB is normally decimal; GiB is explicitly binary.
Should storage units be translated into words?
You can translate the explanatory term, but preserve the technical abbreviation where it is part of the specification.
Why does a 1 TB drive show less space in an operating system?
Unit conventions, formatting and reserved system space can make the displayed usable figure differ from the advertised nominal capacity.
Can I convert Mbps to MB/s?
Yes mathematically, but only when the project asks for it and the distinction between bits and bytes is explicit.
Should KiB and MiB be simplified to KB and MB?
Not if the source intentionally uses IEC binary units.
What about decimal commas?
Localize number formatting only if the target convention requires it and the result remains unambiguous.
Is storage quota the same as data-transfer quota?
No. One limits stored amount; the other limits traffic over time.
Can AI convert storage values reliably?
It can calculate, but you should verify the unit basis and arithmetic independently.
What is the simplest rule?
Preserve the exact unit and capitalization first; convert only with an explicit, verified basis.
Final checklist
- Is each unit bit or byte?
- Is capitalization preserved?
- Is the prefix decimal or binary?
- Are capacity and transfer rate kept distinct?
- Is /s or other time-rate notation preserved?
- Are advertised and usable capacities clearly distinguished?
- Are upload limits and quotas unchanged?
- If a conversion was required, is the 1000/1024 basis documented?
- Was rounding done only after calculation?
- Does the translated text describe the same amount of data or the same transfer rate?
Digital-storage translation succeeds when the target reader sees the same quantity, the same unit system and the same operational limit as the source reader. Protect capitalization, distinguish bits from bytes and decimal from binary prefixes, keep capacity separate from speed, and verify every conversion mathematically before publication.