What does the prefix "giga-" mean?

The prefix "giga-" signifies a factor of one billion, or (10^9). This is an important unit of measurement used in various scientific and technological contexts, such as computing, where gigabytes describe data storage capacity, or in telecommunications when discussing speeds of data transfer, where gigabits may be referenced. Understanding this prefix is essential for interpreting large quantities in science and engineering accurately. In contrast, other prefixes like "kilo-" represents one thousand, "mega-" represents one million, and "tera-" stands for one trillion, illustrating the distinct values represented by each prefix.