Table of content
octal to hexadecimal – How to convert OCT to HEX
Converting octal to hexadecimal is a common operation in programming, digital systems, and computer architecture. While octal (OCT) and hexadecimal (HEX) may look unrelated, both are compact ways to represent binary data. This conversion helps programmers, engineers, and students move efficiently between number systems that computers understand best.
What is an octal (OCT)?
The octal system is a base-8 numeral system that uses eight digits: 0–7. Each position in an octal number represents a power of 8. It’s a convenient shorthand for binary code, since every octal digit corresponds exactly to three binary digits (bits).
Example:25₈ = 2×8¹ + 5×8⁰ = 16 + 5 = 21₁₀
Octal was widely used in early computing systems because it simplified binary representation while staying easy for humans to read.
What is a hexadecimal (HEX)?
The hexadecimal system is a base-16 numeral system that uses sixteen symbols: 0–9 for values zero through nine, and A–F for ten through fifteen. Each hexadecimal digit represents four binary bits, making it an even more compact way to represent data than octal.
Example:2F₁₆ = 2×16¹ + 15×16⁰ = 32 + 15 = 47₁₀
Hexadecimal is essential in programming, web design, and digital electronics—for example, defining color codes like #FF0000 in CSS or representing memory addresses in system software.
How to convert octal to hexadecimal
To convert from octal to hexadecimal, it’s easiest to use binary as a bridge between the two systems.
Steps:
-
Convert the octal number to binary.
-
Each octal digit becomes three binary digits.
Group the binary digits into sets of four (starting from the right).
Convert each 4-bit group into a hexadecimal digit.
Example:
Convert 157₈ to hexadecimal:
-
Convert each octal digit to binary:1 → 001, 5 → 101, 7 → 111→ 001101111₂ -
Group into 4 bits:
0001 1011 11 → add leading zeros → 0001 1011 1100 -
Convert each group to HEX:
0001 = 1, 1011 = B, 1100 = C→ 1BC₁₆
So, 157₈ = 1BC₁₆.
If you’d like to skip the steps, you can use Jetcalculator’s Octal to Hexadecimal Converter for instant results. You can also explore the Conversion Tools and Number Converter, which help you switch easily between octal, binary, decimal, and hexadecimal—all in one place.
.jpg)
Do you know?
-
About Octal: The octal system became the go-to format for computers in the 1960s because it worked neatly with 12-bit and 24-bit architectures. It was later replaced by hexadecimal as memory and word sizes expanded.
-
About Hexadecimal: Hexadecimal was first introduced as a programming standard by IBM in the 1960s, allowing complex binary data to be displayed using fewer characters—two HEX digits per byte.
-
Octal in Operating Systems: In UNIX and Linux, file permissions are still expressed in octal format (like chmod 644), representing read, write, and execute access levels.
-
Hexadecimal in Design: Every color you see on a digital screen is defined by a hexadecimal code. For example, #00FFCC represents binary combinations that define exact light intensities for red, green, and blue.
From Machines to Modern Media
In the early computer era, engineers at companies like DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) relied heavily on octal notation to program and debug 12-bit and 36-bit machines. Octal made sense because it mapped cleanly onto these word sizes—each group of three binary digits could be read as a single octal digit.
As computing technology advanced, word sizes increased to 8, 16, and 32 bits, making hexadecimal the better fit. Each byte (8 bits) translated perfectly into two hexadecimal digits, streamlining memory representation and addressing.
This shift also shaped modern visual and web design. The same hexadecimal notation used in memory mapping later found its way into HTML and CSS, defining colors and digital effects through binary-to-hex conversions. Whether you’re reading data in an assembler program or selecting a color palette for a website, the legacy of octal and hexadecimal systems continues to influence the digital landscape.
.jpg)
Compact Conversion for the Digital Age
The octal to hexadecimal conversion represents the evolution of computing simplicity. Octal once made binary code readable; hexadecimal took that concept further, creating an even clearer and more efficient system.
Octal simplified computing’s early years. Hexadecimal powers its future.
Together, they tell the story of how we turned streams of binary digits into the digital world we understand today.
