is file size on the computer in base 2 or 10?

For my Mac HD, Get Info gives: Used: 34,979,884, ... bytes (34.98 GB on disk). That shows disk size is in base 10.

When I use View/List, Mac HD shows as 37.88 GB. Is that because the computer sizes use base 2?

1024 cubed x 34.98 = 37.56 close.

Thanks for any help, Richard

Posted on Apr 25, 2018 3:20 PM

Reply
1 reply

Apr 26, 2018 2:28 PM in response to RichardWo

Hey RichardWo,

I understand you're looking into how your Mac displays storage. I'd be happy to help out.

The article below will break this down for us:

How iOS and macOS report storage capacity - Apple Support

If you need to look into managing storage, follow the below information from the above article:

iOS and macOS use the decimal system

The operating system of your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac reports storage capacity using the decimal system (base 10), which calculates 1GB as 1 billion bytes. This is the same measurement system used on the product packaging and specifications.

iOS 10 and earlier, Mac OS X Leopard and earlier, Microsoft Windows, and watchOS use the binary system (base 2), which calculates 1GB as 1,073,741,824 bytes. This difference between the decimal and binary systems of measurement is why the reported storage capacity differs from the storage capacity on the product packaging or specifications.

Cheers!

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is file size on the computer in base 2 or 10?

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