What is Hexadecimal?
Hexadecimal (hex) is a base-16 number system. While decimal uses digits 0–9 and binary uses 0–1, hex uses 16 symbols: digits 0–9 plus letters A–F (where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15). A single hex digit can represent values from 0 to 15.
Why Do Computers Use Hex?
Computers store everything in binary, which can become very long very quickly. Hex is a compact shorthand: one hex digit represents exactly 4 binary bits (a "nibble"), and two hex digits represent one byte (8 bits). This makes hex much easier to read and write than binary while still mapping cleanly to how computers store data.
Hex to Decimal Conversion
Each position represents a power of 16. To convert hex to decimal, multiply each digit by 16 to the power of its position.
Example: 2F in hex
- 2 × 16^1 = 32
- F (=15) × 16^0 = 15
- Total: 32 + 15 = 47 in decimal
Common Hex Values
- 0xFF = 255 (max value of one byte)
- 0x10 = 16
- 0x1A = 26
- 0x64 = 100
- 0xFFFFFF = 16,777,215 (used in RGB color codes)
Where You'll See Hex in Real Life
- Colors in web design: #FF5733, #1E90FF are hex RGB values
- Memory addresses in programming and debugging
- MAC addresses on network devices (e.g. A1:B2:C3:D4:E5:F6)
- File formats and encodings in low-level programming
Convert hex to decimal, binary or octal instantly with our free number system converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert hexadecimal to decimal?
Multiply each hex digit by its positional value (powers of 16 from right to left). Hex digits A–F represent 10–15. Example: 1F hex = (1×16) + (15×1) = 16+15 = 31 decimal. FF hex = (15×16)+(15×1) = 255. Our Binary & Number Systems converter handles any hex value instantly.
Why is hex used for colours in web design?
Web colours use hex because each RGB component (red, green, blue) fits in exactly one byte (0–255), which is two hex digits. So #FF5733 means red=255, green=87, blue=51. Hex is more compact and readable than decimal for this purpose — six hex characters fully describe any of 16.7 million colours.
What is the difference between hexadecimal and binary?
Both are used in computing, but for different purposes. Binary (base 2) uses only 0 and 1 — it's how data is physically stored. Hexadecimal (base 16) is a compact human-readable shorthand for binary: 4 binary digits map to exactly 1 hex digit. For example, binary 1111 = F in hex = 15 in decimal.
Convert between hexadecimal, decimal, binary, and octal instantly.
⚡ Binary & Number Systems Converter — FreeAccuracy note: Conversion factors on SwiftConvertHub are sourced from NIST and IEC standards. Results are accurate for general use. For safety-critical or professional applications, verify results independently. Full disclaimer →
Victor A. Calvo S. is a software engineer and digital entrepreneur who builds practical, free tools for developers, students, and professionals worldwide. He is the creator of SwiftConvertHub, InstantLinkHub, and Feexio. All conversion factors are cross-referenced against NIST and IEC standards. Learn more →