Decimal Converter
A general base converter — any whole number in any base from 2 to 36 converts directly to any other base in that same range, going beyond the fixed binary/hex/octal/decimal set most tools limit themselves to.
Inputs
Result
11111111
How the decimal converter works
The input value is first parsed as a number in its stated 'from' base, then converted through to the target 'to' base.
Bases above 10 use letters to represent digit values beyond 9 (A=10, B=11, and so on up to Z=35 for base 36, the maximum supported here).
Worked example: 255 from base 10 to base 2
- 255 in base 10 converts to binary (base 2) as 11111111 — exactly 8 ones, the maximum value representable in one byte.
- The same 255 converted to base 16 instead gives FF, and to base 8 gives 377.
Common mistakes to avoid
Entering digits invalid for the stated 'from' base
A value like '9' entered with 'from base' set to 8 (octal) is invalid, since octal only uses digits 0-7 — the converter treats out-of-range digits as invalid input rather than silently ignoring or misreading them.
Assuming base 36 is a common or standard base in real systems
Base 36 (using all 10 digits plus all 26 letters) is a useful theoretical maximum for compact encoding schemes, but it's far less commonly encountered in everyday computing than base 2, 8, 10 or 16.
Frequently asked questions
Why does base conversion use letters for bases above 10?
There aren't enough distinct decimal digit symbols (0-9) to represent values 10 and above in a single character, so letters A onward extend the available symbol set as needed for higher bases.
What's a real-world use for an unusual base, like base 36?
Compact ID or URL-shortening schemes sometimes use base 36 or base 62 to represent large numbers in fewer characters than decimal would require, since more available symbols per digit means shorter representations.
How is this different from the dedicated Binary, Hex, and Decimal converters?
Those tools are fixed to specific common bases; this general converter handles any base pairing from 2 to 36, useful for less common conversions those dedicated tools don't cover.
Does base affect the actual value being represented, or just its written form?
Only the written form — 255 (decimal), FF (hex), and 11111111 (binary) are all exactly the same underlying quantity, just expressed using different positional-notation systems.
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