There are lots of different wheel sizes on bikes today (20", 24", 26", 700c, etc.), and lot of different tire widths for all those different wheel sizes. Fortunately, tires are marked with their size, so you just need to learn how to read those markings, and they are not complicated.
For the purpose of picking a replacement tube, there are just two numbers you need to know: tire diameter and tire width. These numbers are always written somewhere on the side of each tire. (Sometimes when tires get old the numbers are hard to see. Don't give up, just keep looking.) Here are some examples of what the numbers might say: 26×1.95, 700c x 25. Sometimes the there will be three numbers, something like this: 26×1-1/2×1-3/4. Don't worry about that, just remember the first number (26 in this example), and the larger of the other numbers (1-3/4 in this case). Sometimes there will be letters with the size (such as EA3 or S-6). Sometimes there will be another number or two in parentheses, for example (622) or (559-45). Don't worry about those letters and numbers. They are important for getting a replacement tire that fits, but not important for replacing the tube.
The numbers can be hard to remember. It's a good strategy to write them down somewhere to bring with you.
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