Octets and multi-byte order
Byte order describes the significance assigned to successive stored octets.
Key knowledge
An octet contains eight bits and has 256 possible patterns. For a multi-octet integer, little-endian order places the least significant octet at the lowest address; big-endian order places the most significant there.
Values and equations
Number of octet patterns = 2^8 = 256
- 8
- Number of binary positions in an octet
- 256
- Number of distinct eight-bit patterns
Conditions and scope
- Here byte means an eight-bit octet; wider addressable units require a separate convention.
- Declare width, signedness and encoding as well as octet order. Octet order does not specify the serial transmission order of individual bits.
8-bit-byte representation only; dated architecture-prevalence examples excluded. Record uses n-bit model; source's universal byte-size and positive/zero wording excluded.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Checked the stated octets and multi-byte order and restrictions against the listed primary sections; exact inspected boundaries are in the author receipt.
2026-10-10 · Independent Physics and Measurement reference editor (AI editorial bounded review). Independent AI editorial review of this entry's statements, equations, applicability conditions and source coverage. Source checks apply to these claims within their stated limits.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- foundation-info-octets-byte-order
- Revision
- foundations-refresh.1
- Structured reference record
- Foundational reference additions