Computer data architecture is based on the binary system of using ones and zeros in a string of eight "bits" to form different characters. Each string of eight bits is called a byte. 8 bits = 1 byte = 1 character as described by the order of the 8 bits of data

For example, the capital letter "K" is expressed in binary bits as "01001011." Approximately one thousand (actually 1024) bits of data equals a kilobit, while 1024 bytes equals a kilobyte. Kbps always refers to kilobits, while the designation of KB/sec refers to kilobytes.

1024 bits = 1 kilobit

1024 bytes = 1 kilobyte = 8 kilobits

1024 kilobytes = 1 megabyte = 8,192 kilobits

One of the most ubiquitous devices to rate data transfer speeds in terms of kbps is the standard dial-up modem. At 56 kbps it provides the least expensive, albeit the slowest, method of connectivity to the Internet. As an example, DSL modems deliver speeds starting at 144 kbps and ranging upwards of 3,000 kbps, sometimes expressed as 3.0 mbps (megabits per second).