HEX Encoder/Decoder

Tool for converting text to HEX format and HEX to readable text

This online HEX encoder and decoder supports multiple formatting options and allows you to convert text to hexadecimal.

Quickly convert text to HEX or decode HEX to text in your browser with no server upload.

Input Text

HEX Output

About HEX Encoding

Hexadecimal (HEX) is a base-16 numeral system used to represent binary data in a human-readable format. Each hexadecimal digit represents 4 bits (half a byte), so a byte can be represented by two hexadecimal digits.

When to use HEX encoding: HEX encoding is commonly used in programming and computer science for various purposes, including:

  • Binary data representation: For viewing and editing binary files in a readable format
  • Color codes: In web development for defining colors (e.g., #FF5733)
  • Memory addresses: For displaying memory addresses in debugging
  • Binary protocols: For analyzing and documenting network and binary protocols
  • Cryptography: For representing cryptographic values like hashes and keys

Supported HEX formats for decoding:

  • Plain - Simple uppercase or lowercase hex characters (DEADBEEF or deadbeef)
  • With Dashes - Pairs separated by dashes (DE-AD-BE-EF)
  • With 0x Prefix - Each byte has 0x prefix (0xDE 0xAD 0xBE 0xEF)
  • With Colons - Pairs separated by colons (DE:AD:BE:EF)
  • With Spaces - Pairs separated by spaces (DE AD BE EF)

Learn more about hexadecimal encoding at Wikipedia Hexadecimal and character encoding at MDN TextEncoder.

All encoding and decoding is performed locally in your browser - your data never leaves your device.

Development & System Administration Applications

System Programming & Debugging

Essential for low-level programming, system debugging, and analyzing binary data structures in operating systems and embedded systems development.

System Applications:
  • Analyze memory dumps and core files
  • Debug binary file formats and protocols
  • Examine hardware register values
  • Process firmware and BIOS data
Network & Security Analysis

Critical for network protocol analysis, cybersecurity investigations, and forensic data examination where binary data needs to be inspected in readable format.

Security Tasks:
  • Network packet payload analysis
  • Malware binary examination
  • Digital forensics evidence processing
  • Cryptographic hash verification
Web Development & Data Processing

This HEX encoder/decoder is valuable for web developers working with binary data, character encoding issues, and data format conversions in modern web applications.

Web Development Scenarios:
Color code conversionBinary file analysisUnicode debuggingProtocol developmentData validationEncoding conversion

Programming Languages & Technical Standards

Programming Language Support

Hexadecimal encoding is universally supported across programming languages with built-in functions and libraries for conversion operations.

Language Examples:
  • JavaScript: parseInt(), toString(16), Buffer.from()
  • Python: hex(), bytes.fromhex(), codecs.encode()
  • Java: Integer.toHexString(), Hex.encodeHexString()
  • C/C++: sprintf(), sscanf(), std::hex
Industry Standards & Formats

Hexadecimal representation follows established industry standards for data interchange, file formats, and protocol specifications.

Standard Applications:
  • ASCII/Unicode character codes (U+0041)
  • RGB color values in CSS (#FF5733)
  • MAC addresses (00:1B:44:11:3A:B7)
  • Binary file signatures and magic numbers
Hex Dump Analysis & Binary Tools

This tool complements traditional hex dump utilities like hexdump, xxd, and od, providing a browser-based solution for hexadecimal data analysis and conversion.

Related Tools & Commands:
hexdump -Cxxd -pod -xobjdump

For comprehensive hexadecimal documentation, visit Wikipedia Hexadecimal and for character encoding standards, refer to Unicode Standard.