What is a number base?

A number base (or radix) is the number of unique digits used in a positional numeral system. Decimal uses base 10 (0-9), binary uses base 2 (0-1), octal uses base 8 (0-7), and hexadecimal uses base 16 (0-9, A-F).

Why is hexadecimal used in computing?

Hexadecimal is widely used in computing because it is a compact representation of binary. Each hexadecimal digit represents exactly 4 binary digits, making it easier for humans to read and write binary data.

How does binary conversion work?

To convert decimal to binary, repeatedly divide by 2 and collect remainders. For example, 10 ÷ 2 = 5 remainder 0, 5 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 1, 2 ÷ 2 = 1 remainder 0, 1 ÷ 2 = 0 remainder 1, giving 1010 in binary.

Can I convert negative numbers?

Yes! This converter supports negative numbers in all bases. The negative sign is preserved, so -10 in decimal converts to -1010 in binary.

What about fractional numbers?

Fractional numbers can be converted using repeated multiplication. For example, 0.5 decimal = 0.1 binary. Some fractions create repeating patterns (like 0.1 decimal repeating in binary), which are limited to 20 digits.

Number Base Converter

Free number base converter supporting decimal, binary, octal, and hexadecimal conversions. Handles negative numbers and fractional parts.

Convert numbers between decimal, binary, octal, and hexadecimal bases.

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