What is binary code?
Binary code is the fundamental language of computers. It is a base-2 numeral system
that uses only two digits: 0 and 1. Each binary digit is called a
bit (short for "binary digit"). Bits are the smallest unit of information that a
computer can process.
In a computer, every character, number, or instruction is represented by a sequence of bits.
A group of 8 bits forms a byte, which can represent 256 different values
(from 0 to 255). These bytes are used to encode text characters according to various standards
such as ASCII or UTF-8.
How does binary conversion work?
Our binary converter allows you to easily transform text into binary code and vice versa.
Each character in your text is converted to its 8-bit binary representation (one byte).
Text to binary conversion
When you convert text to binary, each letter, digit, or symbol is transformed into a sequence of 8 bits.
For example, the uppercase letter "A" has ASCII code 65, which in binary is written as 01000001.
Practical example:
Text: "Hi"
Binary:
- H = 01001000
- i = 01101001
- Complete result: 01001000 01101001
Binary to text conversion
To convert binary to text, the process is reversed. Groups of 8 bits are interpreted as character
codes and transformed into the corresponding letters, digits, or symbols.
The basics of binary numeration
Unlike the decimal system (base 10) that we use daily with digits from 0 to 9, the binary system
(base 2) only uses 0 and 1. Each position in a binary number represents a power of 2:
Breakdown of a byte:
| Position |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| Power of 2 |
128 |
64 |
32 |
16 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
| Example (65) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Calculation: (1 × 64) + (1 × 1) = 65 (character 'A')
Common conversion examples
Uppercase letters
| Letter |
Binary |
| A | 01000001 |
| B | 01000010 |
| C | 01000011 |
| Z | 01011010 |
Why use a binary converter?
A binary to text converter (and vice versa) can be useful in several situations:
- Computer science learning: Understand how computers encode information
- Programming: Analyze data in binary format, debug code
- Basic cryptography: Encode simple messages in a fun way
- Education: Teach fundamental computer science concepts
- Technical curiosity: Discover how your name is written in binary
Conclusion
Binary code is the cornerstone of all modern computing. With this binary converter, you can easily
explore how your messages are encoded at the most fundamental level of the computer. Try converting
your first name, a secret message, or even complete sentences to discover their binary representation!