Number Base Converter
Computers count in binary; programmers use hexadecimal; we use decimal. Convert a number between binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal by entering its base.
Your numbers
Result
- Decimal
- 255
- Octal
- 377
| Base | Representation |
|---|---|
| Binary (base 2) | 11111111 |
| Octal (base 8) | 377 |
| Decimal (base 10) | 255 |
| Hexadecimal (base 16) | FF |
What number bases are
The base sets how many digits a system uses. Decimal (base 10) uses 0-9; binary (base 2) only 0 and 1; octal (base 8), 0-7; hexadecimal (base 16) runs 0-9 then A-F (A=10 ... F=15). The number 255 in decimal is 11111111 in binary and FF in hex.
Why binary and hex matter
Electronic circuits store information as two states (on/off), which is binary. Because bit strings get long, programmers use hexadecimal, where each digit maps to 4 bits — shorter and easier to read. Web colors (#FF0000) and memory addresses are written in hex.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Positional numeral systems (math / computing)
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