Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal is an easy way for us to show and write down binary numbers without using as much space. Each number up to 15 that is represented by binary can be turned into hexadecimal.

Each 4-bit piece of code representing 1 to 15 has either a number or a letter representing it. For an example 0110 represents 6 and its hexadecimal representation is 6. But once getting up to the number 10 which is 1010 it is represented by an A because its two digits, each byte (8-bits) is split in to a nibble (4-bits) for this process.

Once hexadecimal gets to two digit numbers it turns in to letters to keep it one character and easy to understand. Since hexadecimal only represents up to 15, how do you represent 16? This is done by adding together the numbers and the letters. So, 16 would be 1F not 10.

Although computers cannot understand hexadecimal it is an easy way for us to write down long binary numbers without having to write out the whole thing. A skilled binary coder will instantly see that 011011000010 is 6C2 by separating the 12-bit binary code into bits of 4 and then working out which number or letter each 4-bit section of code represents. They will also be able to work it in vice versa and understand how to turn 6C2 into binary code.