In Byte Addressable Memory, each address references exactly one unit of data. Which unit is it?

In Byte Addressable Memory, each address references exactly one unit of data. Which unit is it?

• A. One Byte
• B. One Word
• C. One Bit
• D. One Nibble

Answer: (A)

In a memory system that is byte-addressable, an address refers to a single byte—the smallest chunk that can be fetched or stored in one memory operation. A byte is 8 bits, so each address gives you 8 bits of data. If you need a larger piece of data, like a word, you read several consecutive bytes and combine them. This is why a word is not the addressable unit in this scheme: a word is simply multiple bytes grouped together, depending on the architecture. A nibble (4 bits) or a single bit isn’t the addressable unit here either in standard byte-addressable memory.

In a memory system that is byte-addressable, an address refers to a single byte—the smallest chunk that can be fetched or stored in one memory operation. A byte is 8 bits, so each address gives you 8 bits of data. If you need a larger piece of data, like a word, you read several consecutive bytes and combine them.

This is why a word is not the addressable unit in this scheme: a word is simply multiple bytes grouped together, depending on the architecture. A nibble (4 bits) or a single bit isn’t the addressable unit here either in standard byte-addressable memory.