title: How many bits is a "word"?
body: <p>This is from the book <strong>Assembly Language Step By Step</strong>, Jeff Duntemann:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Here’s the quick tour: A bit is a single binary digit, 0 or 1. A byte
    is 8 bits side by side. A word is 2 bytes side by side. A double word
    is 2 words side by side. A quad word is 2 double words side by side.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>And this is from the book <strong>Principles of Computer Organization and Assembly Language: Using the Java Virtual Machine</strong>, Patrick Juola:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>For convenience, 8 bits are usually grouped into a single block,
    conventionally called a byte. The next-largest named block of bits is
    a word. The definition and size of a word are not absolute, but vary
    from computer to computer. A word is the size of the most convenient
    block of data for the computer to deal with.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>So is a word 2 bytes (16 bits), or is it the most convenient block of data for the computer to deal with? (I am also not sure what this means..)</p>