How many bits comprise a byte?

A byte is a fundamental unit of digital information commonly used in computing and telecommunications. It is composed of 8 bits. Each bit represents a binary value of either 0 or 1, and by combining 8 bits, a byte can represent a wide range of values, specifically 256 different combinations (from 00000000 to 11111111 in binary). This capability allows a byte to encode a single character of text in most character encoding schemes, such as ASCII, which is standard in modern computer systems. Therefore, understanding that a byte consists of 8 bits is crucial for anyone studying computer fundamentals, as it forms the basis for understanding data storage and processing in computers.