In computer memory terminology, which of the following terms represents a unit of data storage equal to a group of bits in memory?

Introduction / Context:
Memory and storage units are fundamental to computer science. Understanding terms that represent specific quantities of bits or bytes is important when reading technical documentation or working with network protocols. This question asks you to identify which term in the list is a recognised unit of data storage in computer memory.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options are pixel, decimal, octet, and point.
• We are looking for a term that directly represents a unit of data storage.
• An octet is commonly used in networking and represents 8 bits.
• The other terms have meanings in graphics, mathematics, or typography rather than memory units.

Concept / Approach:
An octet is defined as a group of eight bits. In many contexts, especially in networking standards, the term octet is used instead of byte to avoid confusion about byte size on different architectures. For example, an IPv4 address is described as four octets. Pixel refers to a picture element in an image and does not describe a fixed number of bits by itself. Decimal is a number system, not a memory unit. Point is a unit of measurement in typography and graphics, used to define font size or spacing. Therefore, only octet directly represents a unit of data storage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that a bit is the smallest unit of digital information, and groups of bits form larger units such as bytes or octets.Step 2: Understand that an octet is specifically defined as an ordered collection of eight bits.Step 3: Recognise that pixels represent physical dots or color elements in a display or image and may be stored using various numbers of bits, but the term pixel itself is not a memory unit.Step 4: Note that decimal describes base ten representation in mathematics, not how many bits are stored.Step 5: Remember that a point is used to specify font size and layout, not to represent a quantity of bits in memory. Thus, octet is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you examine network protocol specifications such as those for IP or TCP, you will see fields defined in terms of octets. For example, many header fields are described as one or more octets. These documents often clarify that one octet equals eight bits. By contrast, in graphics standards, pixels are defined as image elements and can be encoded with different bit depths. This difference confirms that octet is the memory unit.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pixel is a spatial unit in digital images and does not inherently specify a number of bits; different image formats use different bits per pixel. Decimal is a numbering system and is not used to measure storage. Point is a physical size unit in printed or displayed text, not a digital storage unit. None of these terms directly represent a fixed unit of bits in memory.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse pixels with bytes because image file sizes are often described in kilobytes while image resolution is in pixels. Others may think that any term used in computing, such as decimal or point, could relate to memory. To avoid confusion, associate octet strictly with groups of eight bits and remember its frequent use in networking standards.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Octet, because an octet is a unit of data storage representing eight bits in computer memory and communication protocols.