Convert base-2 to octal Online | Free numbers Converter

Number System

The base-2 number system, commonly called the binary system, is a positional numeral system that uses only two digits: 0 and 1. Each digit, known as a bit, represents a power of 2, with the rightmost position representing $2^0$, the next $2^1$, and so on. For example, the binary number 1101 equals $1 \times 2^3 + 1 \times 2^2 + 0 \times 2^1 + 1 \times 2^0 = 8 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 13$ in decimal. Binary is fundamental to computing and digital electronics because electronic devices operate in two states: on and off, represented by 1 and 0. This simplicity allows computers to store, process, and transmit data reliably. Binary numbers are used in memory storage, processor instructions, networking, logic circuits, and coding systems. Understanding base-2 is crucial for computer science, programming, and engineering because it explains how machines represent and manipulate information. Binary arithmetic, logic operations, and data encoding form the foundation for higher-level computations, making the base-2 system indispensable for modern technology, digital communications, and computing systems.

Number System

The octal number system, also known as base-8, is a positional numeral system that uses eight digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Each digit represents a power of 8, with the rightmost digit representing $8^0$, the next representing $8^1$, and so on. For example, the octal number 157 equals $1 \times 8^2 + 5 \times 8^1 + 7 \times 8^0 = 64 + 40 + 7 = 111$ in decimal. Octal was widely used in early computing systems because it provides a more compact representation of binary numbers: each octal digit corresponds exactly to three binary digits. This makes conversion between binary and octal straightforward and simplifies programming and memory addressing in older computer architectures. Although modern systems primarily use hexadecimal (base-16), octal remains important in some computing contexts, such as Unix file permissions, digital electronics, and certain embedded systems. Understanding octal helps in grasping how different number bases can efficiently represent information and interact with binary systems. It also provides a foundation for learning hexadecimal and other positional numeral systems used in digital technology.