What is Hex to Decimal Conversion?
Hexadecimal to decimal conversion transforms base-16 numbers into the familiar base-10 system. Programmers work with hex constantly - color codes, memory addresses, byte values - but sometimes need the decimal equivalent for calculations or display.
This converter handles the translation instantly. Type hex, see decimal. No formulas to remember, no mental math required.
Understanding Hexadecimal
Decimal uses 10 digits (0-9), hex uses 16 (0-9 plus A-F where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15). This maps perfectly to 4 bits of binary, making hex a natural shorthand for computer data.
FF in hex equals 255 in decimal (the maximum value for one byte). 100 in hex is 256 decimal. The 0x prefix is optional notation to indicate hex format.
Common Hex Values
Programmers encounter these hex values frequently:
- FF = 255 (max byte value, common in colors)
- 100 = 256 (one byte plus one)
- FFFF = 65535 (max 16-bit value)
- FFFFFFFF = 4,294,967,295 (max 32-bit value)
Privacy
All conversion happens in your browser. Your numbers never leave your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hexadecimal?
Hexadecimal (hex) is a base-16 number system using digits 0-9 and letters A-F. Each hex digit represents 4 bits, making it a compact way to represent binary data. It's widely used in programming for colors, memory addresses, and data representation.
How do I convert hex to decimal manually?
Multiply each digit by 16 raised to its position power (right to left, starting at 0), then sum. For 'FF': F(15)×16¹ + F(15)×16⁰ = 240 + 15 = 255.
What does 0x mean before hex numbers?
The '0x' prefix is a common notation in programming to indicate a hexadecimal number. 0xFF means FF in hex. This tool accepts input with or without the prefix.
Why is hex used for colors?
Hex colors like #FF5733 efficiently represent RGB values. Each pair of digits is one color channel (Red, Green, Blue), each ranging 00-FF (0-255 decimal). It's compact and directly maps to the 8-bit color values computers use.