Download file size

[rendezvouscp]

Alright, here's the question: I've got a file that's 900 bytes, but shows up as 4 kb due to the blocks in the file system (or something along those lines that I read a really long time ago). So while the actual file only takes up 900 bytes, it's a 4 kb file. Two of these together make 8 kb, and so on and so forth (I don't really need to tell you that). Well, I'm curious if when someone downloads that file (perhaps as a graphic in my CSS), are they downloading 900 bytes or are they downloading 4 kb?

If they're downloading 4 kb anyway, then if I can make that file a little bit bigger in size or quality that'd make sense, since it won't cost me or the user anything. If someone knows what's going on here, I'd really be grateful for an explanation. Thanks in advance!
-Chase

 

[CanadaRAM]

They're downloading only the actual number of bytes (900 bytes)

The 4 K is an artifact of the hard disk formatting system, it's a 900 byte file in a 4096 byte pigeon-hole.

So 900 bytes will be transmitted, and what it occupies on the destination machine depends on the block size of that particular machine.

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com

 

[rendezvouscp]

Thanks, I appreciate the clarification.
-Chase

 

[mnkeybsness]

They're downloading only the actual number of bytes (900 bytes)

The 4 K is an artifact of the hard disk formatting system, it's a 900 byte file in a 4096 byte pigeon-hole.

So 900 bytes will be transmitted, and what it occupies on the destination machine depends on the block size of that particular machine.

good answer!