Binary converter

Translate between text and binary

Computers store everything as binary: ones and zeros. Each character you type is stored as a number, and that number is written in base 2. In ASCII and UTF-8 the letter H is 72, which is 1001000 in binary (01001000 as a full 8-bit byte), and i is 105, or 1101001. This converter writes each byte without leading zeros, so "Hi" comes out as 1001000 1101001.

This binary converter goes both ways. Choose To binary to turn text into binary code, or To text to translate binary back into readable characters.

It's popular with students learning how computers work, puzzle makers, and anyone who wants to hide a message in plain sight.

How to use the binary converter

1. Paste your text or binary code.
2. Choose To binary or To text.
3. Submit to convert.
4. Copy the result.

Examples

Text to binary

Input: Hi

Output: 1001000 1101001

Letters, digits and symbols

Input: A1!

Output: 1000001 110001 100001

Digits are characters too: "1" is 49, which is 110001 in binary.

Binary to text

Input: 1001101 1111001

Output: My

Leading zeros are optional, so 01001101 01111001 gives the same result.

An accented letter

Input: é

Output: 11000011 10101001

é takes two bytes in UTF-8, so it produces two groups.

Common uses

• Learning how characters are stored in computers.
• Completing computer science homework and exercises.
• Making secret messages, geocache clues and escape room puzzles.
• Creating nerdy gifts, tattoos or bracelet patterns.
• Checking binary values while debugging.

Tips and things to know

• Separate each byte with a single space when converting binary to text. Leading zeros are optional: 01001000 and 1001000 both decode to H.
• Characters outside basic ASCII, such as emoji or accented letters, take more than one byte in UTF-8.
• Other number systems: try the hex converter, octal converter, decimal converter or ASCII converter.

Edge cases and limitations

• Use exactly one space between groups. Two spaces create an empty group, which decodes to an invisible NUL character.
• Groups that aren't valid binary (digits other than 0 and 1) give wrong characters rather than an error.
• To decode text from another tool that pads to 8 digits, no change is needed: padded and unpadded groups both work.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert text to binary?

Each byte of the text is turned into its number, and that number is written in base 2. The tool drops leading zeros, so most letters show 7 digits.

What is "hello" in binary?

1101000 1100101 1101100 1101100 1101111 (or 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 with leading zeros).

Why do some letters show 7 digits and others 8?

A byte has 8 bits, but this converter leaves out leading zeros. Plain English letters are below 128, so they need only 7 digits; bytes of accented letters and emoji use all 8.

Can binary represent emoji?

Yes, but they use several bytes (usually 4 in UTF-8), so you'll see more groups of digits.

Related tools

• Hex converter: Convert text to hexadecimal and the other way for any string input.
• Ascii converter: Convert text to ascii and the other way for any string input.
• Decimal converter: Convert text to decimal and the other way for any string input.
• Octal converter: Convert text to octal and the other way for any string input.
• Morse converter: Convert text to morse and the other way for any string input.