How to Use the Binary to Decimal Converter
- Type a binary number (only 0s and 1s) into the input box.
- The decimal equivalent appears instantly.
- Use the linked base converter to also view hexadecimal and octal forms.
How binary works
Decimal uses ten digits (0–9) and each position represents a power of ten. Binary uses only two digits (0 and 1), and each position represents a power of two instead. So the binary number 1011 equals (1×8) + (0×4) + (1×2) + (1×1) = 11 in decimal.
Why binary matters
Computers represent all data — numbers, text, images, instructions — as binary at the hardware level, since digital circuits naturally represent two states (on/off, high/low voltage). Understanding binary is foundational for topics like bitwise operations, networking (subnet masks), color values, and low-level programming.
Example
1011
11
Tips
- Binary numbers only use the digits 0 and 1 — any other digit means it isn't valid binary.
- Each additional binary digit doubles the range of representable values.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an 8-digit binary number represent?
An 8-digit (8-bit) binary number, called a byte, can represent decimal values from 0 to 255.
Can this convert negative numbers?
This tool handles standard unsigned binary-to-decimal conversion; negative binary representations (like two's complement) depend on context and bit width.