Text to Binary Converter - Encode & Decode Binary Code

Text to Binary

Binary to Text

Binary Reference

Common characters and their binary equivalents:

How Binary Works

Binary is a base-2 number system that uses only two digits: 0 and 1. Computers use binary because electronic circuits have two stable states: on (1) and off (0). Every piece of data—text, images, videos—is ultimately stored as binary.

Converting Text to Binary

Each character has a numeric code assigned by a character encoding standard. The most common are:

• ASCII (7-bit): 128 characters (0-127) — English letters, numbers, basic punctuation
• Extended ASCII (8-bit): 256 characters (0-255) — adds accented letters and symbols
• Unicode (16+ bits): Over 140,000 characters — all languages, emojis, and symbols

Step-by-Step Example: "Hi"

1. Look up each character's ASCII code: H = 72, i = 105
2. Convert each decimal to binary:
   • 72 ÷ 2 repeatedly → 01001000
   • 105 ÷ 2 repeatedly → 01101001
3. Result: 01001000 01101001

Converting Binary to Text

The reverse process:

1. Split binary into 8-bit chunks: 01001000 and 01101001
2. Convert each chunk to decimal: 72 and 105
3. Look up ASCII characters: H and i → "Hi"

Worked Examples

Common text strings converted to binary:

ASCII vs Unicode

Understanding when to use each encoding:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert text to binary?

Each character has a numeric code (ASCII or Unicode). Convert that number to base-2 (binary). For example, 'A' is ASCII 65, which becomes 01000001 in 8-bit binary. This tool does the conversion automatically—just type your text in the box above.

What is the binary code for the letter A?

Uppercase 'A' has ASCII code 65, which is 01000001 in 8-bit binary. Lowercase 'a' is ASCII 97, which is 01100001 in binary. Notice the difference is just one bit position (bit 5).

Why do computers use binary?

Electronic circuits have two reliable states: high voltage (1) and low voltage (0). Binary is the simplest number system that maps directly to these physical states. More complex data like text is built on top of these simple 1s and 0s.

What is the difference between 7-bit and 8-bit binary?

7-bit binary (standard ASCII) can represent 128 different values (2⁷ = 128), covering English letters, digits, and basic punctuation. 8-bit binary doubles that to 256 values, adding accented characters and more symbols. Most modern systems default to 8-bit.

How do I convert binary back to text?

Split the binary string into groups of 8 bits (or 7 for pure ASCII). Convert each group to a decimal number, then look up the corresponding character. For example: 01001000 01101001 → 72, 105 → "Hi".

Can binary represent emojis and special characters?

Yes, using Unicode encoding (typically UTF-8 or UTF-16). Emojis require more bits—most use 32 bits (4 bytes). For example, 😀 (grinning face) is Unicode code point U+1F600. Use 16-bit mode in this tool for Unicode characters.

What does "padding with zeros" mean?

When a binary number has fewer digits than needed (e.g., 7 = 111), we add leading zeros to reach the required bit length (7 = 00000111 in 8-bit). This ensures consistent formatting and correct decoding.

Why are spaces used between binary bytes?

Spaces make binary easier to read and parse. Without spaces, 0100100001101001 is hard to split correctly. With spaces, 01001000 01101001 clearly shows two 8-bit characters. When decoding, the converter handles both formats.

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Text to Binary Converter FAQ