hexadecimal

5 synonyms for hexadecimal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A number system based on sixteen, using the digits 0 to 9 and the letters A to F.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

hex base sixteen sedecimal sexadecimal base-sixteen

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun technical

A number system based on sixteen, using the digits 0 to 9 and the letters A to F.

“Hexadecimal is widely used in computing because each digit maps neatly onto four binary bits.”

hex base sixteen sedecimal sexadecimal

2. adjective technical

Expressed using the base-sixteen number system.

“The error code was given in hexadecimal form.”

base-sixteen hex

How to use hexadecimal

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hexadecimal number hexadecimal code hexadecimal digit convert to hexadecimal

Almost always used in technical or computing contexts rather than everyday speech.

Etymology

The word was first recorded in 1952, formed by joining the prefix hexa-, meaning six, to decimal. It is a partial equivalent of the older term sexadecimal, both describing a base-sixteen counting system.

Full origin of hexadecimal →

Frequently asked questions

What does hexadecimal mean in computing?

It refers to a number system with a base of sixteen, using digits 0 to 9 and letters A to F. It is commonly used because it represents binary data compactly.

Why do programmers use hexadecimal instead of binary?

Because one hexadecimal digit represents exactly four binary bits, so a byte can be shown with just two hexadecimal digits, making long binary strings far easier to read.

What is an example of a hexadecimal number?

A hexadecimal number might look like 1A3F, using digits and the letters A to F in place of values ten to fifteen.

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