What number bases does this tool support?

Binary (base 2), octal (base 8), decimal (base 10), and hexadecimal (base 16) are always shown, plus a custom base you can set anywhere from 2 to 36 for both input and output.

How do I enter a hexadecimal or binary number?

Select the matching base from the dropdown, or leave it on Auto and type the number with its standard prefix: 0x for hex, 0b for binary, and 0o for octal — for example 0xFF, 0b1010, or 0o17.

Can this tool handle negative numbers?

Yes. Start the number with a minus sign (e.g. -1F in hex or -101 in binary) and every output base will show the same signed value.

Why can I convert numbers bigger than other tools allow?

This converter uses JavaScript's native BigInt type instead of regular 32-bit or 64-bit integers, so there's no upper limit on precision. Most calculator apps and spreadsheet formulas silently overflow or round once a number outgrows their fixed bit width; this tool keeps every digit exact no matter how large the number is.

What does the digit-count / bit-length row tell me?

It shows how many bits the number needs in binary and how many digits it has in decimal, which is useful for sizing data types, checking storage requirements, or verifying a value fits a fixed-width field.

Why is hexadecimal used so much in programming?

Hex is a compact, human-friendly stand-in for binary: each hex digit represents exactly four bits (a nibble), so converting between the two is simple and lossless. This makes hex the standard way to write memory addresses, color codes, byte values, and binary data dumps.