How many bytes does a kilobyte equal?

A kilobyte is equal to 1024 bytes. This is based on the binary system, where digital storage is measured in powers of two. In computing, data is often counted in binary multiples, so 1 kilobyte is defined as 2^10 bytes, which equals 1024.

This measurement convention stems from the structure of computer memory and data management, where aligning with binary logic is essential. The other figures listed do not represent the standard definition, as 2048, 512, and 256 bytes do not conform to the established metric for a kilobyte in this context. Here, understanding that a kilobyte corresponds to 1024 bytes is crucial for interpreting data sizes accurately in computer science.