Nibble

In computing, a nibble^[1] (occasionally nybble, nyble, or nybl to match the spelling of byte) is a four-bit aggregation,^[1]^[2]^[3] or half an octet. It is also known as half-byte^[4] or tetrade.^[5]^[6] In a networking or telecommunication context, the nibble is often called a semi-octet,^[7] quadbit,^[8] or quartet.^[9]^[10] A nibble has sixteen ( $24$ ) possible values. A nibble can be represented by a single hexadecimal digit (0–F) and called a hex digit.^[11]

A full byte (octet) is represented by two hexadecimal digits (00–FF); therefore, it is common to display a byte of information as two nibbles. Sometimes the set of all 256-byte values is represented as a $16\times16$ table, which gives easily readable hexadecimal codes for each value.

Four-bit computer architectures use groups of four bits as their fundamental unit. Such architectures 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^[12] rather than nibbles.^[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c Cite error: The named reference Intel_1974_MCS-40 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Hall_1980 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Warren_2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference esr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Carr_1959 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Speiser_1965 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Puzman_2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Horak_2007_Websters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Brewster_1994 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Courbis_1989 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Intro_CPP_1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Intel_1973_MCS-4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Intel_1974_MCS-40-1] Cite error: The named reference Intel_1974_MCS-40 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Hall_1980-2] Cite error: The named reference Hall_1980 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Warren_2013-3] Cite error: The named reference Warren_2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[esr-4] Cite error: The named reference esr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Carr_1959-5] Cite error: The named reference Carr_1959 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Speiser_1965-6] Cite error: The named reference Speiser_1965 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Puzman_2012-7] Cite error: The named reference Puzman_2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Horak_2007_Websters-8] Cite error: The named reference Horak_2007_Websters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Brewster_1994-9] Cite error: The named reference Brewster_1994 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Courbis_1989-10] Cite error: The named reference Courbis_1989 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Intro_CPP_1997-11] Cite error: The named reference Intro_CPP_1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Intel_1973_MCS-4-12] Cite error: The named reference Intel_1973_MCS-4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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