Convert Decimal to Hexadecimal

Convert Decimal (dec) to Hexadecimal (hex) instantly and accurately.

Selected Decimal (dec) - available characters: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Conversion Formula

Step-by-step example using the value 42 (decimal):

Convert Decimal (base 10) → Hexadecimal (base 16)

Step 1: Input is already decimal - skip to Step 2.
        Value: 42

Step 2: Divide 42 by 16 repeatedly (read remainders upward):

        42 ÷ 16 = 2  r 10 (A)
         2 ÷ 16 = 0  r 2
        Read remainders upward: 2A

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Result:  42 (dec) = 2A (hex)

About Decimal

Decimal (base 10) is the universal positional system using digits 0-9. Each position is a power of 10: 10⁰=1, 10¹=10, 10²=100. Attributed to human anatomy (ten fingers). The Hindu-Arabic system - including zero - was formalised by Brahmagupta (628 CE) and spread via al-Khwarizmi (c. 820 CE). SI and metric systems are base-10. IEEE 754-2008 added decimal64/128 formats for exact decimal arithmetic in financial applications. Conversion: decimal 42 is the reference value used throughout this converter.

About Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal (base 16) uses digits 0-9 and A-F (A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15). Each position is a power of 16: 16⁰=1, 16¹=16, 16²=256. Because 16 = 2⁴, each hex digit = exactly 4 bits (one nibble). Ubiquitous in computing: memory addresses (0x7FFF…), CSS colours (#FF5733), IPv6, SHA-256 hashes (64 hex digits = 256 bits), MAC addresses, UUID/GUIDs, and binary file magic numbers. The '0x' prefix originated in C (1972) and is standard in C++, Java, Python, JS, Rust, and Go. Conversion: decimal 42 = 2×16+10 = 2A₁₆.

Quick Reference Table

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