Nibble

In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, a nibble, or spelled nybble to match <a href="/facts/Byte/BNHUp9Qq">byte</a>, is a <a href="/facts/Unit_of_information/lxjSrVJM">unit of information</a> that is an aggregation of four-<a href="/facts/Bit/RwfjaYSv">bits</a>; half of a byte/<a href="/facts/Octet_(computing)/dqCHsuUF">octet</a>. The unit is alternatively called nyble, nybl, half-byte or tetrade. In <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">networking</a> or <a href="/facts/Telecommunications/vxoj1cxR">telecommunications</a>, the unit is often called a semi-octet, quadbit, or quartet.
As a nibble can represent sixteen (24) possible values, a nibble value is often shown as a <a href="/facts/Hexadecimal/02ohQW22">hexadecimal</a> <a href="/facts/Digit_(math)/JJdLBoGT">digit</a> (hex digit). A byte is two nibbles, and therefore, a value can be shown as two hex digits.
<a href="/facts/4-bit_computing/C0MF1C62">Four-bit computers</a> use nibble-sized data for storage and operations; as the <a href="/facts/Word_(computer_architecture)/2e5umRaj">word</a> unit. Such computers were used in early <a href="/facts/Microprocessor/Fx9CaQht">microprocessors</a>, <a href="/facts/Pocket_calculator/eeLfRS8L">pocket calculators</a> and <a href="/facts/Pocket_computer/EcENXFK7">pocket computers</a>. They continue to be used in some <a href="/facts/Microcontroller/MKrnAhnm">microcontrollers</a>. In this context, 4-bit groups were sometimes also called <a href="/facts/Character_(computing)/X2zKLFFB">characters</a> rather than nibbles.

Nibble open-in-new

Nibble