Understanding the conversion between bytes and megabits per second (Mbps) is crucial for anyone trying to decipher why their "100 Meg" internet plan only seems to download files at around 12 megabytes per second. While the terms sound similar, they represent two different units used for two different purposes: data and data transmission . The Core Difference: Bits vs. Bytes The fundamental difference lies in the unit of measurement: Bit vs Byte (Mbps vs MBps) - OpenEye Knowledge Base