Binary Converter

Binary Converter - Convert Binary Numbers to Multiple Formats

This powerful binary converter allows you to convert binary numbers to decimal, hexadecimal, octal, and ASCII text formats. Whether you're working with computer science, programming, or digital electronics, this tool provides instant conversions with accurate results.

How do I convert binary to decimal?

To convert binary to decimal, multiply each digit by 2 raised to the power of its position (starting from 0 on the right), then sum all the results. For example, binary 1010 = (1×2³) + (0×2²) + (1×2¹) + (0×2⁰) = 8 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 10 in decimal.

What is the difference between binary, decimal, hexadecimal, and octal?

These are different number systems:
- Binary (base 2): Uses only digits 0 and 1
- Decimal (base 10): Uses digits 0-9 (our everyday number system)
- Hexadecimal (base 16): Uses digits 0-9 and letters A-F
- Octal (base 8): Uses digits 0-7

For example, the number 15 is:
- Binary: 1111
- Decimal: 15
- Hexadecimal: F
- Octal: 17

How does binary to ASCII conversion work?

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) assigns each character a unique 7-bit binary code. To convert binary to ASCII:
1. Split the binary into 8-bit chunks (bytes)
2. Convert each chunk to decimal
3. Use the decimal value as the ASCII character code

For example, binary 01000001 = decimal 65 = ASCII character 'A'

What happens with non-printable ASCII characters?

Non-printable ASCII characters (control characters) are displayed in different ways:
- Tab (9), Newline (10), Carriage Return (13): Displayed as actual characters
- Null (0): Displayed as a middle dot (·)
- Other control characters: Displayed as [hex] format
- Printable characters (32-126): Displayed normally

Can I convert binary strings with spaces?

Yes, the converter automatically removes spaces from your input. You can enter binary numbers with or without spaces, such as '1010 1100' or '10101100' - both will be processed correctly.

What if my binary number doesn't have 8 bits?

For ASCII conversion, the tool automatically pads the binary number with leading zeros to make it a multiple of 8 bits. For example, '101' becomes '00000101' before conversion. For other conversions (decimal, hex, octal), the exact number of bits doesn't matter.

Binary Conversion Reference Table