What is the smallest unit of binary data?

The smallest unit of binary data is a bit. A bit represents a binary value of either 0 or 1, which is the fundamental building block of digital information. All other data types and sizes in computing are built upon combinations of bits.

A byte, which consists of 8 bits, is the next logical grouping and is used as a standard unit to represent data in many computer architectures. A nibble, which consists of 4 bits, is half of a byte and is often used in contexts like hexadecimal representation. A word refers to a group of bits that a processor can handle and can vary in size depending on the architecture of the hardware (for instance, a word might be 16, 32, or 64 bits).

Thus, the bit is recognized as the fundamental unit in computing that is essential for representing all other data types.