> convert | base | number <
// Convert numbers between any base from 2 to 36
All Bases 2-36
Convert between any numeral base from 2 (binary) to 36 (alphanumeric). Supports all standard and exotic bases.
Large Number Support
Handles arbitrarily large numbers using BigInt. No overflow, no precision loss, even for hundreds of digits.
Simultaneous Display
See your number in binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal, and a custom base all at once. Edit any field and all update instantly.
// ABOUT NUMBER BASE CONVERSION
How It Works:
Number base conversion uses positional numeral systems. Each digit's value depends on its position and the base (radix). This tool converts from base-2 (binary) through base-36 (using 0-9 and A-Z). Internally it uses BigInt for arbitrary precision, so there are no size limits.
Example:
255 (dec) = FF (hex) = 11111111 (bin) = 377 (oct)
Common Use Cases:
- >Binary for low-level programming and bitwise operations
- >Hexadecimal for memory addresses, colors, and byte values
- >Octal for Unix file permissions
- >Base-36 for compact alphanumeric identifiers
- >Debugging and understanding number representations
>> frequently asked questions
Q: What is a number base (radix)?
A: A number base or radix is the number of unique digits used in a positional numeral system. For example, base-10 (decimal) uses digits 0-9, base-2 (binary) uses 0-1, and base-16 (hexadecimal) uses 0-9 and A-F.
Q: Why is base-16 (hexadecimal) used in computing?
A: Hexadecimal is widely used because each hex digit maps exactly to 4 binary bits, making it a compact and human-readable way to represent binary data. It is commonly used for memory addresses, color codes (e.g., #FF0000), and byte-level data inspection.
Q: Why is base-2 (binary) fundamental in computing?
A: Computers use binary because digital circuits have two states: on (1) and off (0). All data in a computer, from text to images, is ultimately stored and processed as sequences of binary digits (bits).
Q: What is base-36 used for?
A: Base-36 uses all 26 letters (A-Z) plus 10 digits (0-9), making it the highest base that can be represented with standard alphanumeric characters. It is commonly used for generating short, unique identifiers and URL shorteners.
Q: What is the maximum supported base?
A: This converter supports bases from 2 to 36. Base-36 is the practical maximum because it uses all 10 digits (0-9) and 26 letters (A-Z). Bases higher than 36 would require non-standard symbols.