The Four Main Number Systems
| System | Base | Digits Used | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binary | 2 | 0, 1 | Computers, digital circuits |
| Octal | 8 | 0–7 | Unix file permissions, legacy systems |
| Decimal | 10 | 0–9 | Human everyday use |
| Hexadecimal | 16 | 0–9, A–F | Memory addresses, colours, Unicode |
Conversion Examples
| Decimal | Binary | Octal | Hex |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1010 | 12 | A |
| 16 | 10000 | 20 | 10 |
| 255 | 11111111 | 377 | FF |
| 256 | 100000000 | 400 | 100 |
| 1024 | 10000000000 | 2000 | 400 |
Why Programmers Use Hex
Hexadecimal is favoured by programmers because each hex digit exactly represents 4 binary bits (a nibble), making it compact and readable. A byte (8 bits) fits neatly in 2 hex digits: FF = 11111111. Memory addresses, CSS colours (#7c3aed), Unicode characters (U+0041 = 'A') and MAC addresses all use hexadecimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
We support binary (base 2), octal (base 8), decimal (base 10), hexadecimal (base 16), and customizable bases up to base 36.
Our converter handles integer base conversions instantly and dynamically. For fractional conversions, standard division algorithms are applied.
Yes, you can input a binary string and the converter will instantly display its hexadecimal, decimal, and octal equivalents simultaneously.
💻 Convert any number across all bases simultaneously
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