Text to Binary Converter
Convert text to binary, hexadecimal, octal and decimal byte values and back.
Convert Text to Binary, Hexadecimal, Octal and Decimal
Computers store text as numbers. Which numbers depends on the encoding: ASCII covers only the first 128 characters, while UTF-8 — the encoding of essentially the whole modern web — uses one byte for those same characters and two to four bytes for everything else, from accented letters to emoji.
This converter encodes your text as UTF-8 first and then shows those bytes in whichever base you choose. That is why an emoji produces four bytes rather than one: you are seeing exactly what a computer actually stores.
Key features
- Four output bases — binary, hexadecimal, octal and decimal.
- UTF-8 correct — accented characters, CJK text and emoji all convert accurately in both directions.
- Bidirectional — edit either panel and the other updates.
- Separator control — spaced bytes for readability, or a continuous stream.
- Byte validation — a value outside 0–255 is rejected with an explanation.
This tool runs entirely inside your browser using native Web APIs. Your files and text are never uploaded to a server, never logged and never shared with third parties.
How to use: Text to Binary Converter
- Type or paste your text
The binary equivalent appears immediately, eight bits per byte. - Choose an output base
Binary, hexadecimal, octal or decimal — the conversion is instant. - Or paste bytes to decode
Edit the right-hand panel and the text is reconstructed. Works with or without separators. - Toggle spacing as needed
Spaces make bytes readable; removing them produces a continuous stream for pasting elsewhere.
Technical specifications
| Processing location | Entirely in your browser — no server round trip |
|---|---|
| Data uploaded | None. Files and text never leave your device |
| Price | Free — no account, no trial, no usage cap |
| Category | Converters |
| Works offline | Yes, once the page has loaded |
| Browser support | Chrome 90+, Edge 90+, Firefox 90+, Safari 15+ |
| Interface languages | English, 中文, हिन्दी, Español, العربية |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert text to binary manually?
Look up each character’s code point, then write that number in base 2 padded to eight bits. Capital A is 65, which is 01000001. This tool does the same thing but encodes as UTF-8 first so non-English text works too.
Why does one emoji produce four bytes?
Emoji sit far above the ASCII range, and UTF-8 encodes those code points using four bytes. What you see is genuinely how the character is stored — a single emoji really does take four times the space of a plain letter.
What is the difference between ASCII and UTF-8?
ASCII defines 128 characters in a single byte. UTF-8 is a variable-width encoding that represents every Unicode character, and is deliberately backwards-compatible: for the original ASCII characters the bytes are identical.
Why is each byte eight bits?
Convention settled on eight because it cleanly represents 256 values, divides into hexadecimal digits neatly, and matched the hardware of the systems that won out. It was not inevitable — earlier machines used six- and nine-bit bytes.