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Binary Hex Octal Converter Guide: Number Base Conversions (2026)

Convert between decimal, binary, hex, and octal — for programming, networking, and computer science studies.

5 min readUpdated April 24, 2026Developer, Math, Computer Science, Conversion

Number base converters translate between decimal (base 10), binary (base 2), hex (base 16), and octal (base 8). Essential for programmers, network engineers, students, and anyone debugging at byte level.

This guide covers conversion methods and worked examples.

Free Tool

Convert Number Bases — Free

Decimal, binary, hex, octal — all directions instantly.

Open Base Converter ->

Number Bases Explained

BaseDigits UsedUse
Decimal (10)0-9Everyday math
Binary (2)0, 1Computer logic
Octal (8)0-7Unix file permissions
Hex (16)0-9, A-FMemory addresses, colors

Conversion Examples

DecimalBinaryOctalHex
0000
10101012A
16100002010
25511111111377FF
1024100000000002000400

Conversion Methods

Decimal to Binary

Divide by 2, write remainders bottom-up:

13 ÷ 2 = 6 r 1
6 ÷ 2 = 3 r 0
3 ÷ 2 = 1 r 1
1 ÷ 2 = 0 r 1
Result: 1101

Binary to Decimal

Multiply each digit by 2^position (right to left):

1101 = 1×8 + 1×4 + 0×2 + 1×1 = 13

Decimal to Hex

Same as binary but divide by 16. Use A-F for 10-15.

Real Use Cases

  • Color codes — #FF5733 (hex)
  • File permissions — 755, 644 (octal)
  • Memory addresses — 0x7FFE (hex)
  • Bitwise operations — programming
  • Network masks — IP subnets
  • ASCII codes — character to number

How to Use the Tool (Step by Step)

  1. 1

    Enter Number

    In any base.

  2. 2

    Pick Source Base

    Decimal, binary, hex, octal.

  3. 3

    See All Conversions

    Tool shows all 4 representations.

  4. 4

    Verify with Manual

    For learning.

  5. 5

    Copy Result

    Use in code or documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is hex used in computing?+

Each hex digit = 4 binary bits, making memory and color values shorter and human-readable.

Why do file permissions use octal?+

3 permission bits (read, write, execute) per group fits perfectly in 1 octal digit (0-7).

Can negative numbers convert to binary?+

Yes — using two's complement representation. Most converters handle this for signed integers.

Why isn't there base 11?+

No conventional use. Base 10 (decimal) and powers of 2 (binary, octal=2³, hex=2⁴) are practical.

How big can binary numbers get?+

Unlimited mathematically. Computers limit to 32-bit, 64-bit, etc., based on hardware.

What is 0xFF in decimal?+

255. FF in hex = 16×15 + 15 = 255.

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Convert Number Bases — Free

Decimal, binary, hex, octal — all directions instantly.

Open Base Converter ->

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