Nibble

This article is about the data storage unit. For other uses, see Nibble (disambiguation).

In computing, a nibble, also spelled nybble to match byte, is a unit of information that consists of four bits. A nibble is half of a byte, or octet. The unit is alternatively called nyble, nybl, half-byte or tetrade. In networking or telecommunications, 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 hexadecimal digit (hex digit). A byte is two nibbles, and therefore, a value can be shown as two hex digits.

Four-bit computers use nibble-sized data for storage and operations, in the form of the word unit. Such computers were used in early microprocessors, pocket calculators and pocket computers. They continue to be used in some microcontrollers. In this context, 4-bit groups were sometimes also called characters rather than nibbles.

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