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Why hexadecimal is used in programming

A single hex digit maps exactly to four bits, aligning naturally with binary.

Aligned with bits

One hex digit (0-F) corresponds to exactly four bits (a nibble), so long binary strings become short and readable.

Where it's used

Color codes #RRGGBB, memory addresses 0x1F4, byte values 0xFF and more all use hex.

Prefix notation

0x means hex, 0b means binary and 0o means octal. This tool recognizes and ignores these prefixes automatically.