Binary/Hex Converter
Convert between binary, hexadecimal, octal and decimal
About Binary/Hex Converter
Binary & Hex Converter is a free browser-based tool that converts numbers between the four fundamental numeral systems used in computing: binary (base 2), decimal (base 10), hexadecimal (base 16), and octal (base 8). Enter a value in any base and see the equivalent in all other bases instantly.
Understanding numeral systems is fundamental to computer science. Modern computers operate at the hardware level using binary — sequences of 0s and 1s representing electrical off/on states. Decimal is the natural language of humans. Hexadecimal is a compact representation of binary that is far more readable — each hex digit represents exactly four binary bits. Octal (base 8) was historically used in systems with 3-bit groupings and still appears in Unix file permission modes.
Hexadecimal appears constantly in software development: CSS colour codes (#FF5733), memory addresses (0x1A2B3C), Unicode code points (U+1F600), SHA and MD5 hash values, IP address representations, and assembly language all use hexadecimal notation. Being able to quickly convert between hex and decimal or binary is an everyday skill for developers, security researchers, and system programmers.
Binary conversions are essential in bitwise operations — the AND, OR, XOR, and NOT operations that underpin data compression, cryptography, and network protocols. When debugging bit flags, permission masks, or protocol headers, seeing the binary representation alongside the decimal and hex values makes the relationships immediately clear.
Computer science students use this tool extensively when learning about number systems, two's complement arithmetic, floating-point representation, and character encoding (ASCII values are naturally understood in both decimal and hexadecimal). Network engineers use it when working with subnet masks and IP addressing in both IPv4 and IPv6.
The converter handles values from single-bit binary numbers to large integers. For signed integers, the tool correctly handles two's complement representation. Hex values can be entered with or without the 0x prefix, and binary values can be entered as plain bit strings.
All conversions are computed using JavaScript's built-in parseInt() and toString() methods with appropriate radix parameters, ensuring accurate results for all standard integer values. No data leaves your browser.
How to Use Binary/Hex Converter
- 1Enter a number in any base — binary, decimal, hex, or octal
- 2The equivalent values in all other bases appear instantly
- 3Copy the converted value you need for your project
- 4Use the swap button to quickly flip the conversion direction
Frequently Asked Questions
Each binary digit (bit) represents a power of 2. Add up the powers of 2 for all positions with a "1". For example, binary 1011 = 1×8 + 0×4 + 1×2 + 1×1 = 11 in decimal. This tool does the calculation instantly — just type the binary number.
Each hex digit represents a value from 0–15, where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15. Multiply each digit by its power of 16. For example, hex 1A = 1×16 + 10×1 = 26. This tool converts automatically.
Hexadecimal provides a compact, human-readable representation of binary data. Each hex digit maps exactly to 4 binary bits, making it easy to work with bytes (8 bits = 2 hex digits) and memory addresses. It is far more readable than long binary strings.
Octal (base 8) is commonly used in Unix/Linux file permissions. For example, chmod 755 means rwxr-xr-x — the permission value 7 (111 in binary) means read+write+execute, and 5 (101 in binary) means read+execute.
Yes, for standard integer values within JavaScript's safe integer range (up to 2^53 - 1 = 9,007,199,254,740,991 in decimal). For very large numbers (cryptographic keys, etc.), a dedicated big-integer library would be required.
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