Base Converter (Binary, Hex, Octal)
Convert numbers between binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal, base32, and any custom base from 2 to 36.
Convert
Binary (base 2)
11111111
Octal (base 8)
377
Decimal (base 10)
255
Hexadecimal (base 16)
FF
Base32
7V
Custom (base 3)
100110
Frequently Asked Questions about the Base Converter (Binary, Hex, Octal)
What is base conversion used for?
Programmers convert between bases to read memory addresses (hex), bit flags (binary), file permissions (octal), and encoded IDs (base32). Decimal 255 equals binary 11111111, octal 377, and hex FF.
What is the difference between binary, octal, and hex?
Binary uses 2 digits (0-1), octal uses 8 (0-7), decimal uses 10 (0-9), and hexadecimal uses 16 (0-9 plus A-F). Each higher base packs more information per digit, which is why hex is popular for color codes and memory addresses.
Why is hex used for colors and memory addresses?
Hex is compact and maps cleanly to bytes. Two hex digits represent exactly one byte (0-255), so a 24-bit RGB color fits in 6 characters and a 32-bit address fits in 8.
Can I convert very large numbers?
Yes. The converter uses BigInt internally, so 16-digit hex values, 64-bit integers, and longer inputs convert without precision loss.
What is base32 used for?
Base32 encodes binary data using 32 characters (A-Z plus 2-7 in the standard alphabet) and is common for TOTP secrets, Onion addresses, and case-insensitive identifiers since it has no ambiguous characters.