CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is often called an "octet" to avoid ambiguity?

1. Bit

2. Byte

3. Packet

4. Frame

The correct answer is: Byte

The term "octet" refers specifically to a grouping of eight bits. In networking and computer science, it is often used to avoid ambiguity because the term "byte" can sometimes refer to a size other than eight bits, depending on the architecture or system being discussed. Historically, a byte could be composed of varying numbers of bits (for example, some systems used 6-bit or 9-bit bytes in the past), but the standardized definition of a byte in modern computing environments is now typically eight bits. Using "octet" ensures clarity, especially in protocols and networking standards where precise definitions are crucial for communication and interoperability among different systems and devices. This level of specificity is especially important in contexts such as IPv4 addressing, where each of the four components of an IP address is an octet. Thus, the usage of the term "octet" serves to eliminate confusion and provides a consistent understanding that an octet consists of exactly eight bits.