As a business, you demand quick and reliable internet service. Should be easy, right? Unfortunately, complex jargon makes it difficult to understand how much you can expect to download and when you're getting a good deal. One of the top questions that plague even tech-savvy internet users: What are Megs? Below, we break it down in a way that even technophobes can understand.

What are Megs— And How About Gigs?

Megs are simpler than you think. The term refers to a unit of measurement. More specifically, it describes data such as images or videos. The more megabytes (MB) in a file, the more space it occupies. Often, when we talk about everyday internet functions, we refer to gigabytes, or gigs. Each gigabyte (GB) equals 1,000 MB. A useful frame of reference: one movie in HD nets just over 1 GB.

So That’s How Big?

It's tough to conceptualize MB and GB, especially in comparison to one another. Analogies help. Imagine an 18 foot x 36 foot pool with a depth of 5 feet. It's not quite as large as a conventional lap pool, but certainly big enough for a backyard pool party with your best friends. This type of pool won't be full until it contains 24,300 gallons of water. That would mean 24,300 trips if you tried to fill your pool one gallon at a time, but with an amount of water equivalent to a gig, you'd only need make this trip 24 times.

Perhaps you think in currency. No problem —just imagine a single byte is equivalent to a penny. In real-life, pennies are basically useless, right? The same concept applies to single bytes. But like pennies, bytes add up over time. Think of a megabyte as the equivalent to one million pennies — which equals $10,000. By this measure, a gigabyte would amount to a whopping $10 million.

The Evolution of Megabytes

As the internet evolves, we use more and more data on a daily basis. A megabyte once represented a substantial amount of data, but today, it won't get you far. Experts estimate that it takes half a megabyte just to load a standard internet page on your mobile phone. Hence, our transition to measuring internet functions in gigabytes. It’s still important to understand the difference; if you have a clear concept of MB versus GB, you'll find it easier to compare various internet and mobile data plans.

Megabits Versus Megabytes

Another common source of confusion? Megabits and megabytes. Megabits measure internet speed, while megabytes (MB) involve file size. Different tasks require different speed in megabits (Mbps – megabits per second). For example, standard streaming typically requires about 3 Mbps, while high definition video or online gaming might need 5 Mbps. Most users aim for plans that maximize both speed and data allowances. Thus, with both megabits and megabytes, services that provide more are nearly always preferable.

Megabytes, gigabytes, megabits...it's confusing. Just focus on the basic differences and find the right analogy that works for you. It’ll make more sense in no time.