Mastering Hexadecimal Conversion in Python: From Decimal and Binary to Hex, and Vice Versa

Summary: Learn how to efficiently perform hexadecimal conversions in Python, including converting to hexadecimal from decimal and binary, as well as converting hexadecimal to decimal. Perfect for both beginners and experienced Python programmers.
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Mastering Hexadecimal Conversion in Python: From Decimal and Binary to Hex, and Vice Versa

Hexadecimal, often abbreviated as hex, is a base-16 number system that uses 16 symbols: 0-9 and A-F. It is commonly used in programming and computer science due to its compact representation of binary-coded values. In this post, we'll dive deep into converting decimal and binary numbers into hexadecimal and converting hexadecimal back to decimal using Python.

Converting Decimal to Hexadecimal

Python provides a built-in function, hex(), to convert a decimal (base-10) number to its hexadecimal representation.

Example:

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In the given example, the hex() function converts the decimal number 255 to its hexadecimal equivalent, 0xff.

Converting Hexadecimal to Decimal in Python

To convert a hexadecimal number back to a decimal in Python, you can use the int() function with base 16.

Example:

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Here, the int() function interprets the hex string 0xff and converts it to its decimal form, which is 255.

Conversion to Hexadecimal from Binary

Binary numbers (base-2) can also be converted to hexadecimal in Python. First, you need to convert the binary number to a decimal, and then convert that decimal to hexadecimal.

Example:

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In this example, we first convert the binary string 11111111 to its decimal form 255 and then convert that to its hexadecimal equivalent 0xff.

Converting Hexadecimal to Binary

To convert a hexadecimal number to binary, you can reverse the above steps: first, convert the hex number to decimal, then convert that decimal number to binary.

Example:

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Here, we convert the hexadecimal number 0xff to decimal form 255, then convert it to the binary representation 0b11111111.

Conclusion

Whether you're converting from decimal to hexadecimal, binary to hexadecimal, or the reverse, Python makes it straight-forward with its built-in functions like hex(), int(), and bin(). Proper understanding and utilization of these functions can simplify handling numerical data efficiently in your code.

Embrace the power of hexadecimal conversions in Python, and leverage it to make your programs more efficient and elegant!