What is clock speed measured in?

Clock speed is a measure of how many cycles a processor can execute in one second, and it is measured in Hertz (Hz). Specifically, one Hertz is defined as one cycle per second. In the context of processors, clock speed indicates how fast a CPU can process instructions, directly impacting the performance of the system.

Higher clock speeds typically mean that a processor can carry out more instructions in a given amount of time, thus potentially resulting in better performance for tasks. For example, a 3 GHz processor can execute three billion cycles per second, showcasing the substantial capability of modern processors.

Other choices such as pulses per second, bytes, and bits represent different concepts. While pulses per second can relate to frequency, it is not the standard measurement for clock speed. Bytes and bits are units of data that describe storage and memory rather than execution speed. Thus, Hertz (Hz) is the correct and relevant unit of measurement for clock speed in the context of processors.