Text to Binary Converter
Convert text to binary code and binary back to text. Each character becomes 8-bit binary, and UTF-8 characters and emoji are supported.
How to use the Text to Binary Converter
- Choose Text to binary to convert words into 0s and 1s, or Binary to text to read binary code.
- Type or paste your input. The result updates as you type.
- For binary input, write 8 digits per character separated by spaces, such as
01001000 01101001. A single unbroken string works too if its length is a multiple of 8.
How text becomes binary
Computers store every character as a number, and every number as a pattern of bits (0s and 1s). To convert text to binary, each character is turned into its code number and written as 8 binary digits, called a byte.
Example: the word "Hi" is the numbers 72 and 105, which are
01001000 01101001 in binary. "Hello" is
01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111.
Common characters in binary
| Character | Decimal code | Binary |
|---|---|---|
| A | 65 | 01000001 |
| B | 66 | 01000010 |
| C | 67 | 01000011 |
| a | 97 | 01100001 |
| b | 98 | 01100010 |
| c | 99 | 01100011 |
| 0 | 48 | 00110000 |
| 1 | 49 | 00110001 |
| Space | 32 | 00100000 |
| ! | 33 | 00100001 |
Letters outside basic ASCII and emoji
Basic English letters, digits and punctuation fit in one byte (this is ASCII). Other characters use UTF-8,
which spends more bytes on them: "é" takes two bytes (11000011 10101001), "✓" takes three, and an
emoji such as "😀" takes four. This converter uses UTF-8, so these characters convert and decode correctly.
What is binary code used for?
- Learning how computers store text, in computer science classes and coding courses
- Puzzles, geocaching clues and escape-room codes
- Decoding binary messages and checking homework answers
- Creative uses such as binary jewelry, tattoos and wall art
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert text to binary?
Find the code number of each character, then write that number in base 2 using 8 digits. For example, "A" is 65, which is 01000001 in binary.
How should binary be entered to convert it to text?
Use groups of 8 digits (0 and 1) separated by spaces, for example 01001000 01101001. A continuous string without spaces also works when its length is a multiple of 8.
Why does one character sometimes give more than 8 digits?
Characters outside basic ASCII, such as accented letters and emoji, need 2 to 4 bytes in UTF-8, so they appear as 16 to 32 binary digits.
Is binary code the same as ASCII?
No. Binary is how numbers are written with 0s and 1s. ASCII is a table that gives each basic character a number. Text-to-binary conversion uses a character table to get the number, then writes it in binary.
Is my text uploaded or stored?
No. The converter is free and everything runs in your browser. Your text is never uploaded to a server or stored.