How to Use hex-to-binary
- Enter any number — in hex (
0x prefix or bare), binary (0b), octal (0o), or decimal.
- All four representations update instantly.
- Toggle the grouped/spaced display for easier bit reading.
- Copy any output value with a single click.
Hexadecimal, binary, octal, and decimal are four views of the same underlying integer. Computer engineers move between them constantly — reading memory dumps in hex, writing bitmasks in binary, interpreting Unix permissions in octal. This converter displays all four simultaneously, with optional grouping of binary bits into 4-bit nibbles for readability.
Hex to Binary Conversion
Each hex digit maps to exactly 4 bits — this is why hexadecimal is so useful in computing. The mapping is fixed: 0→0000, 1→0001, ... 9→1001, A→1010, B→1011, C→1100, D→1101, E→1110, F→1111. To convert 0x3F to binary: 3=0011, F=1111 → 0011 1111 = 63 decimal. The grouping makes the bit pattern immediately readable — no long arithmetic required.
- Hex, binary, octal, and decimal all shown simultaneously
- Optional 4-bit nibble grouping in binary display
- Accepts prefixed input: 0x, 0b, 0o
- Result shows bit width (8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit) context
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a hex colour to binary?
Hex colour #FF8800 = three bytes FF, 88, 00. FF = 11111111, 88 = 10001000, 00 = 00000000. The full binary is 11111111 10001000 00000000. Each byte is an independent channel (R, G, B).
What is a nibble?
A nibble (or nybble) is 4 bits — half a byte. Since one hex digit represents exactly 4 bits, nibbles and hex digits are the same thing in different representations.
Why is octal used for Unix file permissions?
Each Unix permission group (owner, group, other) has exactly 3 bits (r, w, x). Three bits = one octal digit. So chmod 755 sets permissions in three octal digits — much more compact than 9 binary bits.
How do I convert negative numbers?
The tool uses two's complement for negative integer representation — the standard for signed integers in all modern hardware. Enter a negative decimal to see its two's complement binary and hex representations.
See also the Binary to Decimal converter, Bitwise Calculator, and the ASCII Table.