Programmer Calculator

Convert between number bases and perform bitwise operations.

Base Converter

Decimal

255

Hexadecimal

0xFF

Binary

0b11111111

Octal

0o377

32-bit Representation

00000000000000000000000011111111

Bit 31 (MSB)Bit 0 (LSB)

Bitwise Operations

170

Dec: 170 | Hex: AA | Bin: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1010 1010

About this tool

A programmer's calculator for working with binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal numbers. Perform bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, SHIFT) and see results in all four bases simultaneously. Supports 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit signed and unsigned integers. Essential for low-level programming, embedded systems, and network engineering.

How to Use the Programmer Calculator

1Select the integer size: 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit.
2Enter a number in any base - binary, octal, decimal, or hex.
3All four representations update simultaneously.
4Click an operation button (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, shifts) for bitwise operations.
5Enter the second operand and see the result in all bases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert decimal to binary?+

Enter your decimal number and the binary equivalent appears immediately. For example, 255 in decimal = 11111111 in binary = FF in hexadecimal = 377 in octal. All bases update simultaneously as you type.

What is a bitwise AND operation?+

AND compares each bit position: 1 AND 1 = 1, all others = 0. Used to mask bits - e.g. 0xFF AND value extracts the lowest byte. XOR is used to toggle bits. OR is used to set bits.

What does left shift (<<) do?+

Left shift moves all bits left by N positions, filling with zeros. Left shift by 1 is equivalent to multiplying by 2. Right shift (>>) divides by 2. These are faster than multiplication for powers of 2 in performance-critical code.

What is two's complement?+

Two's complement is the standard way computers represent negative integers. In 8-bit two's complement, -1 is 11111111 (255 unsigned). Flip all bits and add 1 to convert. This tool handles signed/unsigned interpretation for all integer sizes.

Looking for a deeper guide on this topic? Browse the Searchlight blog.

Visit the blog →

Related tools

View all Calculators →