Hex Converter | Hexadecimal, Decimal, Binary, Octal Converter

📖 How to Use This Hex Converter

Enter the number - Type or paste the number you want to convert.

Select the source base - Choose from Hexadecimal, Decimal, Binary, or Octal.

Select the target base - Choose the number system you want to convert to.

Get instant results - The converted value appears automatically.

🔢 Understanding Hexadecimal (Base-16)

Hexadecimal (hex) is a base-16 number system widely used in computing and programming. It uses 16 distinct symbols: 0-9 to represent values 0-9, and A-F to represent values 10-15. One hex digit represents 4 binary bits (a nibble), making it a compact way to represent binary data.

Hexadecimal (base-16): Uses digits 0-9, A-F (A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15)
Decimal (base-10): Uses digits 0-9. Standard human counting system.
Binary (base-2): Uses digits 0-1. The fundamental language of computers.
Octal (base-8): Uses digits 0-7. Used in some computing contexts.

📊 Hexadecimal Conversion Methods

Hex to Decimal: Multiply each digit by 16^position and sum.
Example: FF₁₆ = 15×16 + 15 = 240 + 15 = 255₁₀

Decimal to Hex: Repeatedly divide by 16, read remainders backwards.
Example: 255₁₀ ÷ 16 = 15 remainder 15 (F) → FF₁₆

Hex to Binary: Each hex digit converts to 4 binary bits.
Example: A3₁₆ = 1010 0011₂

Hex to Octal: Convert to binary first (4 bits per hex digit), then group in 3-bit groups.

💡 Common Hexadecimal Conversions & Examples

FF₁₆ to Decimal: 15×16 + 15 = 255₁₀
10₁₀ to Hex: 10 ÷ 16 = 0 remainder 10 (A) → A₁₆
3F₁₆ to Binary: 3 = 0011, F = 1111 → 00111111₂ = 111111₂
1A₃₆ to Decimal: 1×16 + 10 = 26₁₀
255₁₀ to Hex: 255 ÷ 16 = 15 remainder 15 (F), 15 ÷ 16 = 0 remainder 15 (F) → FF₁₆
Binary 11111111₂ to Hex: Group as 1111 1111 = F F₁₆

💻 Why Hexadecimal is Used in Computing

Memory Addresses: Hexadecimal provides a compact representation of binary memory addresses
Color Codes: Web colors use hex triplets (#FF0000 = red, #00FF00 = green, #0000FF = blue)
Debugging: Hex dumps show raw binary data in readable format
Assembly Language: Hex is commonly used in low-level programming
Character Encoding: Unicode and ASCII values are often shown in hex

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is hexadecimal used for?

Hexadecimal is used in programming for memory addresses, color codes (e.g., #FF0000 for red), debugging (hex dumps), character encoding, and representing binary data in a more human-readable format.

How do I convert hex to decimal?

Multiply each hex digit by 16 raised to its position (starting from 0 on the right), then sum the results. For example, FF = (15×16¹) + (15×16⁰) = 240 + 15 = 255. Our converter does this instantly.

What is the difference between hex and binary?

Binary uses only 0 and 1 (base-2). Hexadecimal uses 16 digits (0-9, A-F). One hex digit equals 4 binary bits, making hex a more compact representation. For example, 11111111₂ = FF₁₆.

How do I know if a number is hexadecimal?

Hexadecimal numbers often have a prefix like "0x" (0xFF) or "h" (FFh) in programming. They use digits 0-9 and letters A-F. Our converter accepts plain hex numbers like "FF".

What is the largest hex number this converter can handle?

This converter supports up to 64-bit numbers (up to 16 hex digits: FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF ≈ 18.4 quintillion), covering all common programming needs.

Why is A-F used in hexadecimal?

Hexadecimal needs 16 distinct symbols. The digits 0-9 provide the first 10 symbols, and the letters A-F represent values 10-15 (A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15).