Refers to the base 16 numbering system, consisting of 16 unique symbols—the numbers from 0 through 9 and the letters from A to F. This system is useful because it represents every byte (that is, 8 bits) as two consecutive hexadecimal digits, which are easier for people to read than binary numbers. For example, 15 is represented as “F” in the hexadecimal numbering system. To translate a hexadecimal value to a binary one, an individual turns every hexadecimal digit into its 4-bit binary counterpart, such that hexadecimal numbers have either a 0x prefix or an h suffix. For example, the hexadecimal number 0x3F7A translates into this binary number: 0011 1111 0111 1010.

See Also: Bit and Bit Challenge.