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Number Base Converter

Convert numbers between binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal. See the value in all 4 bases at once.

= 42 in decimal

Binary (Base 2)

0b101010

Octal (Base 8)

0o52

Hexadecimal (Base 16)

0x2A

Binary (grouped in 4-bit nibbles)

0010

2

1010

A

Quick examples

About the Number Base Converter

Computers operate in binary (base-2), but humans prefer decimal (base-10). Hexadecimal (base-16) is used in programming for memory addresses, color codes, and low-level data representation. Octal (base-8) appears in Unix file permissions. This converter handles all common number bases and shows the step-by-step conversion - essential for computer science students and programmers working close to the hardware.

Number Base Conversion

Decimal to binary: divide repeatedly by 2, read remainders bottom-up · Binary to decimal: sum of (bit × 2^position)

Binary digits: 0, 1 · Octal digits: 0-7 · Hexadecimal: 0-9, A(10), B(11), C(12), D(13), E(14), F(15) · 1 hex digit = 4 binary digits (nibble) · FF hex = 255 decimal = 11111111 binary

Worked Example

HTML color code #FF6B35 - what are the RGB decimal values?

Hex R:FF = 15×16 + 15 = 255
Hex G:6B = 6×16 + 11 = 107
Hex B:35 = 3×16 + 5 = 53

RGB(255, 107, 53) - a vibrant orange · Binary FF = 11111111 · Binary 6B = 01101011

Tips & Insights

  • 1

    Unix file permissions 755 (octal) = 111 101 101 (binary) = read/write/execute for owner, read/execute for group and others.

  • 2

    IP addresses are 32-bit binary numbers typically shown as 4 decimal octets (192.168.1.1).

  • 3

    Hexadecimal makes binary more readable: every two hex digits = one byte = 8 bits.

Why this matters for you

Computer science students encounter multiple number bases in every hardware and low-level programming course. Exam questions on binary, hex, and octal conversions are common in BCA, B.Tech CS, and GATE CS curriculum. Beyond academics, programmers who understand hex and binary work more confidently with memory, protocols, and color systems.

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