Quick answer
500 GB is 500 billion bytes — about 465.7 GiB, or 0.5 TB.
How it works
Storage makers use decimal units (1 GB = 1 billion bytes) while operating systems often show binary units (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes) — which is why a 500 GB drive shows about 465 GiB.
Formula
Convert everything to bytes first, then divide by the target unit
Assumptions & limitations
- Results are rounded for display.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my drive show less space than advertised?
Drives are sold in decimal GB but computers often display binary GiB, which are about 7% larger per unit.