When discussing data representation, what does 'octet' refer to?

The term 'octet' specifically refers to a collection of 8 bits. This definition is important in the context of data representation and networking, as an octet is often used to quantify data in a way that is both clear and precise. The use of an octet as a standard unit is particularly significant in networking protocols and data transmission, as it allows for the consistent representation of byte-sized data. By using octets, systems can avoid ambiguity that might arise from different interpretations of the term "byte," which can vary in size depending on the architecture (for example, a byte could be 8 bits, but in some older systems, it could contain fewer bits). Thus, when discussing data formats and protocols, the octet serves as the fundamental unit for measuring and transmitting data reliably and uniformly across different systems and applications.