Step 1: Understand the fundamental units of digital data.
Digital data is represented using bits, which are binary digits (0 or 1). Collections of bits are grouped together to form larger units for easier handling and representation of information.
Step 2: Define each of the given options.
Word: In computer architecture, a word is a unit of data of a fixed size that can be processed by the processor in one operation. The size of a word varies depending on the architecture (e.g., 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit). It is generally larger than 8 bits.
Nibble: A nibble is a group of 4 bits (half of a byte). It is often used to represent a single hexadecimal digit.
Byte: A byte is a standard unit of digital information that typically consists of 8 bits. It is the fundamental unit used to measure the size of computer memory and storage.
Record: In the context of data storage and databases, a record is a collection of related data elements, often representing a single entity. The size of a record can vary greatly and is usually composed of multiple bytes.
Step 3: Identify the term for a collection of 8 bits.
By definition, a byte is a collection of 8 bits. This is a fundamental concept in computer science and information technology.