Base Converter
Text ↔ Binary, Decimal, Octal, Hexadecimal
All conversions happen locally in your browser - no data sent to servers
or drag & drop file here
Output will appear here
Click Convert or enable Auto-convert
How to Use
1. Input Options
- ✓Type or paste text directly
- ✓Upload .txt files (drag & drop)
- ✓Enter numeric values separated by spaces
2. Features
- ✓Auto-convert with live updates
- ✓Swap conversion direction
- ✓Copy output with one click
- ✓100% local processing
3. Tips
- 💡Use spaces to separate values
- 💡Binary pads to 8 bits, hex to 2 chars
- 💡Non-ASCII characters auto-handled
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A base converter is an essential tool for students, programmers, engineers, and math learners who need to convert numbers between different number systems. This free online convert number bases tool instantly transforms numbers between binary (base-2), decimal (base-10), hexadecimal (base-16), octal (base-8), and text representations. Whether you're learning computer science fundamentals, debugging code, working with memory addresses, or studying number theory, this decimal to binary converter provides accurate, instant conversions without manual calculations.
Perfect for computer science students learning binary arithmetic, programmers converting between number systems for debugging, engineers working with hexadecimal memory addresses, and anyone studying number theory. This binary to decimal online tool processes all conversions locally in your browser—no data is sent to servers, ensuring complete privacy and security. No signup required, no usage limits, and works on all devices.
What Is Base Conversion?
Number bases (also called radices) define how many unique digits are used to represent numbers. The most common bases include: binary (base-2, uses 0 and 1), decimal (base-10, uses 0-9), hexadecimal (base-16, uses 0-9 and A-F), and octal (base-8, uses 0-7). Base conversion is the process of transforming a number from one base to another while preserving its value.
Base conversion is fundamental in computer science and programming. Binary is the native language of computers (all data is stored as 0s and 1s), hexadecimal is commonly used for memory addresses and color codes (more compact than binary), octal was historically used in Unix systems, and decimal is what humans use daily. Understanding base conversion helps programmers debug code, work with bitwise operations, understand memory layouts, and interpret data representations.
Common use cases include: converting memory addresses from hex to decimal for debugging, translating binary data to readable text, converting color codes (hex) to RGB values, understanding file permissions (octal), and learning computer science fundamentals. This base-10 to base-2 converter handles all these conversions automatically, following proper mathematical algorithms to ensure accuracy.
Supported Bases & When to Use Them
Binary (Base-2)
Uses only digits 0 and 1. This is the fundamental number system of computers—all data in computers is ultimately stored as binary. Essential for understanding how computers work, bitwise operations, and low-level programming.
When to use: Learning computer science fundamentals, debugging bit-level operations, understanding data storage, working with binary protocols, and studying digital logic.
Decimal (Base-10)
Uses digits 0-9. This is the number system humans use daily. All other bases are typically converted to decimal for human understanding.
When to use: Converting other bases to human-readable numbers, verifying calculations, understanding numeric values, and general mathematical operations.
Hexadecimal (Base-16)
Uses digits 0-9 and letters A-F (representing 10-15). More compact than binary (one hex digit represents 4 binary bits), making it easier to read and write large binary values.
When to use: Memory addresses in debugging, color codes in web design (e.g., #FF5733), MAC addresses, Unicode code points, and representing binary data in a readable format.
Octal (Base-8)
Uses digits 0-7. Historically used in Unix systems for file permissions and some programming contexts.
When to use: Understanding Unix file permissions (e.g., chmod 755), legacy systems, and certain programming contexts where octal notation is still used.
Text Conversion
Converts between text characters and their numeric representations (ASCII/Unicode code points). Each character has a numeric value that can be represented in any base.
When to use: Understanding character encoding, debugging text processing, learning ASCII/Unicode, converting text to binary for data transmission, and encoding/decoding operations.
How to Use This Base Converter (Step-by-Step)
Enter Number
Type or paste your number into the input textarea. You can enter numbers in the selected input base format. For binary, enter 0s and 1s (e.g., "01000001"). For hexadecimal, enter digits 0-9 and letters A-F (e.g., "41" or "0x41"). For decimal, enter standard numbers (e.g., "65"). You can also upload a text file (.txt) by clicking the upload button or dragging and dropping a file.
Choose Input Base
Select the base of your input number by clicking one of the buttons: Text, Binary, Decimal, Octal, or Hexadecimal. The tool will validate your input based on the selected base. For example, if you select Binary, only 0s and 1s are valid. The tool automatically detects invalid characters and displays helpful error messages.
Choose Output Base
Select the base you want to convert to by clicking one of the output base buttons: Binary, Decimal, Octal, Hexadecimal, or Text. The conversion happens instantly when you click "Convert Now" or automatically if you enable "Auto-convert" mode. You can also use the "Swap" button to quickly reverse the conversion direction.
View and Copy Results
The converted result appears in the output area. Binary values are padded to 8 bits, hexadecimal values are padded to 2 characters for readability. Click the "Copy" button to copy the result to your clipboard. The tool also maintains a history of recent conversions for easy reference.
Pro Tip: Enable "Auto-convert" mode for real-time conversion as you type. Use the "Load Example" button to see sample conversions. Separate multiple values with spaces or newlines. The tool supports file uploads up to 5MB for batch conversions. All processing happens locally in your browser for complete privacy.
Examples
Example 1: Decimal to Binary
Input (Decimal):
Output (Binary):
The decimal numbers 65, 66, and 67 are converted to their 8-bit binary representations. These binary values represent the ASCII codes for the letters "A", "B", and "C".
Example 2: Binary to Hex
Input (Binary):
Output (Hexadecimal):
The binary representation of "Hello" is converted to hexadecimal. Each byte (8 bits) becomes a 2-digit hex value, making it more compact and readable than binary.
Example 3: Text to Binary
Input (Text):
Output (Binary):
The text "ABC" is converted to binary by converting each character to its ASCII code point (65, 66, 67) and then representing each code point in binary format. This demonstrates how text is stored in computers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is base conversion?
Base conversion is the process of changing a number from one number system (base) to another while preserving its value. For example, converting the decimal number 65 to binary (01000001) or hexadecimal (0x41). Different bases use different sets of digits: binary uses 0-1, decimal uses 0-9, hexadecimal uses 0-9 and A-F. This base conversion tool handles conversions between binary, decimal, hexadecimal, octal, and text automatically.
Is this tool free?
Yes, this number system converter is completely free to use with no signup required. There are no usage limits, no hidden fees, and no account creation needed. The tool works entirely in your browser, ensuring fast performance and complete privacy. All conversions happen locally—no data is sent to servers. For related conversion needs, explore our other developer tools including the Base64 encoder/decoder and text case converter.
Can it convert custom bases?
Currently, this tool supports the most commonly used bases: binary (base-2), decimal (base-10), octal (base-8), hexadecimal (base-16), and text (character encoding). While custom bases (like base-3, base-5, etc.) are not directly supported, you can use the existing bases for most practical purposes. The tool focuses on the bases most relevant to computer science, programming, and engineering applications.
Does it handle negative numbers?
The tool handles positive integers and character codes (0 and above). For negative numbers, you would need to use two's complement representation, which is a more advanced topic. The tool is designed primarily for positive integers and character encoding conversions, which cover the vast majority of base conversion use cases in programming and computer science.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, this base converter is fully responsive and works on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. The interface adapts to smaller screens, and all features—number input, base selection, conversion, copying, and file upload—are available on mobile browsers. Perfect for converting numbers on the go, whether you're in class, at work, or studying.
Can I convert large numbers?
Yes, the tool can handle large numbers within JavaScript's number precision limits (up to approximately 2^53 - 1, or about 9 quadrillion). For extremely large numbers beyond this limit, precision may be lost. However, for typical use cases like memory addresses, color codes, ASCII/Unicode conversions, and educational purposes, the tool handles all numbers accurately. The tool also supports multiple values separated by spaces or newlines for batch conversions.
Limitations & Notes
Base Conversion Limits
The tool handles numbers within JavaScript's safe integer range (up to 2^53 - 1). For numbers beyond this range, precision may be lost. However, this range covers virtually all practical use cases including memory addresses, color codes, character encodings, and educational examples. The tool validates input to ensure only valid characters for each base are accepted.
Large Number Handling
For very large numbers, the tool processes them correctly within JavaScript's precision limits. Binary and hexadecimal outputs are automatically padded (binary to 8 bits, hex to 2 characters) for readability. When converting multiple values, separate them with spaces or newlines. The tool supports file uploads up to 5MB for batch processing of large datasets.
Floating Point Conversion Notes
This tool focuses on integer conversions, which are the most common use cases for base conversion (memory addresses, character codes, bitwise operations). Floating-point number conversion between bases is a more complex topic that requires different algorithms. For integer base conversions—which cover the vast majority of programming, debugging, and educational needs—this tool provides accurate, instant results.
Best Practices
For best results, ensure your input matches the selected base format (e.g., only 0s and 1s for binary). Use spaces or newlines to separate multiple values. Enable Auto-convert for real-time feedback, or disable it for manual control. Use the Swap button to quickly reverse conversions. For text conversions, be aware of encoding differences (ASCII vs UTF-8). Explore our number system utilities and text and data tools for related conversion needs.
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