What is the term used for eight bits of memory composed of 1s and 0s?

The term for eight bits of memory composed of 1s and 0s is indeed a byte. A byte represents a standard unit of digital information and is the fundamental building block in computer architecture. It can hold 256 different values (from 0 to 255), as it can represent all possible combinations of eight binary digits (2^8). This makes a byte a versatile data container used to store various types of information such as characters, integers, and more.

In contrast, a bit is the smallest unit of data in computing, consisting of a single binary digit, either a 0 or a 1. A nibble refers to a group of four bits, effectively half of a byte, while a word typically refers to a larger unit of data used by a particular processor architecture, which can vary in size depending on the system (often 16, 32, or 64 bits). Understanding these distinctions is key in digital electronics and programming, as they lay the foundation for how data is processed and interpreted in computer systems.