Binary, Decimal & Hex: How Number Bases Convert
Binary is base 2, decimal base 10 and hex base 16 — the same value written with different digits. Learn to convert between them with simple place-value math.
Binary (base 2), decimal (base 10) and hexadecimal (base 16) are three ways to write the same number using different digit sets. For example, the value 255 is 11111111 in binary and FF in hex.
Place value is the key
In any base, each position is worth the base raised to its index. In hex, FF = 15×16 + 15 = 255. In binary, 1111 = 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15.
Why each base exists
- Binary maps directly to on/off hardware bits.
- Hex compresses long binary strings — one hex digit equals four bits.
- Decimal is the human default.
Quick conversions
- Binary
1010= decimal 10 = hexA - Decimal 16 = binary
10000= hex10
Convert instantly
Enter a number in any base into the number base converter to see all four at once. Converting text instead of numbers? See text to binary.