---
title: "Hexadecimal as Binary Shorthand"
description: "Writing four bits as one of sixteen digits, so long binary values can be read and typed by people without anything being lost."
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/hexadecimal-as-binary-shorthand-mt_OV6PHdnU6N
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/hexadecimal-as-binary-shorthand-mt_OV6PHdnU6N.md
retrieved: 2026-09-12
---

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# Hexadecimal as Binary Shorthand

Writing four bits as one of sixteen digits, so long binary values can be read and typed by people without anything being lost.

Subject: Computing · Area: Computer Systems · Ages 14 to 15
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/hexadecimal-as-binary-shorthand-mt_OV6PHdnU6N

## Ready when they can

- Convert between binary and hexadecimal in groups of four bits
- Convert a two-digit hexadecimal number to decimal
- Point at a place hex actually shows up, such as a colour code

## Lesson: Four bits in one digit

Hexadecimal is shorthand for binary, and it is how colour codes you meet on web pages are written. It uses sixteen digits: 0 to 9, then A, B, C, D, E and F stand for 10 to 15. Four bits make exactly sixteen patterns, so one hex digit always stands for four bits.

**Example.** Split binary into groups of four starting from the right, padding the left group with zeros if it is short. The group 1010 becomes A and 0110 becomes 6, so 10100110 becomes A6. Your turn: 11011110 splits into 1101 and 1110, which is DE.

Going back is just as easy: write each hex digit as its four bits. To reach decimal, multiply each digit by its power of 16 and add, so 2F is 2 times 16 plus 15, which is 47. Colour codes are one place you meet hex in real life.

**Tip.** Always group from the right, never the left. Padding belongs on the front of the short left group.

**Recap.** Four bits per hex digit, grouped from the right, with nothing lost either way.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Adding Binary Numbers and Overflow](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/adding-binary-numbers-and-overflow-mt_dBS2OoQscq)

## Opens up

- [Character Sets: Storing Text as Numbers](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/character-sets-storing-text-as-numbers-mt_839VNNZlp2)
- [Virtual Memory and Address Translation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/virtual-memory-and-address-translation-mt_B-PiAyderj)
- [IP Addressing and How Routers Choose a Path](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/ip-addressing-and-how-routers-choose-a-path-mt_l0dRGocXGw)
- [Dynamic Programming with a Capacity: Knapsack](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/dynamic-programming-with-a-capacity-knapsack-mt_T5pbU_DpdC)