## What is a Binary value?

Binary values are also known as Base 2 values.

In a computer, all the information is stored in binary format.

Example : (1001001010) Base 2

The reason why we are calling a binary value a Base 2 value is,  at each position a binary digit can be picked from either 0 or 1, meaning for each binary digit we have two combinations.

## What is a Decimal value?

Decimal values are also known as Base 10 values.

• We use decimal values in our day-to-day life i.e. if we go to a supermarket the price of items are written in decimal format.
Example : (345) base 10

The reason why we are calling a decimal value as Base 10 value is,  at each position a decimal digit can be picked from numbers ranging from 0 to 9 meaning for each digit we have a total of 10 possibilities here.

## What is Octal value?

Octal values are also known as Base 8 values.

• Octal & Hexadecimal values were widely being used during the 80's computing era. Both these number systems were the compact form of a binary system.
• For the human mind, it is difficult to represent and remember a large value in binary format.
• Hence both Octal and Hexadecimal formats were introduced to make it easy.
Example: (123) Base 8
• Each octal digit can be picked from numbers 0 to 7 and having a total of 8 combinations, hence we are calling it a Base 8 number.
• We need 3 bits to represent an octal digit.

## What is the Hexadecimal value?

Hexadecimal values are also known as Base 16 values.

• Each hexadecimal digit can be picked from following characters i.e. (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F)
• We have a total of 16 combinations for each hexadecimal digit. Hence we call it a Base 16 value.
Example: (A3FBCFF) Base 16

In computer memory, 4-bits are required to represent each Hexadecimal digit.

• The least representation of the computer memory is 1 BYTE (8 bits). Also, each hexadecimal value represents the 8-bits of information.
• So, embedded programmers widely use hexadecimal representation to represent each location of their computer memory with each hexadecimal value.