How Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion Works

Decimal to hexadecimal conversion is the process of converting a base-10 number (decimal) to a base-16 number (hexadecimal). Hexadecimal is widely used in computing because it’s more compact than binary and easier to read.

The Division Method

To convert a decimal number to hexadecimal:

1. Divide the decimal number by 16
2. Record the remainder (convert 10-15 to A-F)
3. Use the quotient from step 1 and repeat the division
4. Continue until the quotient is 0
5. The hexadecimal equivalent is the remainders read in reverse order

Example: Convert 255 to Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal Number System

Hexadecimal is a base-16 numeral system that uses sixteen symbols: 0-9 and A-F. Each digit represents four bits (a nibble), making it convenient for representing binary values in a more compact form.