Free tools for developers

Number Base Converter

Convert numbers between binary, decimal, octal and hexadecimal instantly. Type in any field and all others update automatically.

0–9
0–1
0–7
0–9, A–F

What is Number Base Conversion?

Computers work in binary - base 2 - using only 0s and 1s. But humans prefer decimal - base 10. Hexadecimal - base 16 - is a compact way to represent binary that is widely used in programming for memory addresses, colour codes, and byte values. Octal - base 8 - is used in Unix file permissions and some older systems.

Understanding how to convert between these bases is a fundamental skill for developers working close to the hardware, writing systems code, or debugging binary data.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Type a number into any of the four input boxes.
  2. All other bases update automatically as you type.
  3. Click copy next to any field to copy that value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do programmers use hexadecimal?

Each hex digit represents exactly 4 binary bits. So two hex digits represent one byte. This makes hex a compact and readable way to work with binary data. Memory addresses, colour codes like #FF5733, and byte sequences are all commonly written in hex.

What is octal used for?

Octal is most commonly used in Unix and Linux file permissions. The permission value 755 is an octal number meaning owner can read/write/execute, group and others can read/execute.