# How do you convert a hexadecimal number to a binary number?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [May 30, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046 "2008-05-30T12:55:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adistarmid)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046/1 "2008-05-30T12:55:17Z")

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I can’t find a clue how to convert a hexadecimal number to a binary  
number. Anyone know?

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**Author:** ![adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adistarmid)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046/2 "2008-05-30T13:35:09Z")

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Bob S. wrote:

> I can’t find a clue how to convert a hexadecimal number to a binary  
> number. Anyone know?

From [Converting to hex (Newbie) - Ruby - Tek-Tips](http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1026407&page=1)

> You have to convert items using methods such as String#to\_i(base=10)  
> and Fixnum#to\_s(base=10). These would be for decimal values. Change  
> to (base=16) for hexadecimal values, (base=2) for binary values,  
> etc.

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**Author:** ![adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adistarmid)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046/3 "2008-05-30T13:45:04Z")

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Ryan L. wrote:

> Bob S. wrote:
> 
> > I can’t find a clue how to convert a hexadecimal number to a binary  
> > number. Anyone know?
> 
> From [Converting to hex (Newbie) - Ruby - Tek-Tips](http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1026407&page=1)
> 
> > You have to convert items using methods such as String#to\_i(base=10)  
> > and Fixnum#to\_s(base=10). These would be for decimal values. Change  
> > to (base=16) for hexadecimal values, (base=2) for binary values,  
> > etc.

Big thanks for the quick reply, Ryan!

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**Author:** ![adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adistarmid)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046/4 "2008-05-30T13:50:34Z")

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Bob S. wrote:

> Big thanks for the quick reply, Ryan!

NP, I just happened to needed this same info like two days ago

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**Author:** ![adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adistarmid)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046/5 "2008-05-30T16:01:46Z")

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From: “Bob S.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

> I can’t find a clue how to convert a hexadecimal number to a binary  
> number. Anyone know?

> > “beef”.to\_i(16).to\_s(2)  
> > =\> “1011111011101111”

Regards,

Bill

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**Author:** ![adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@adistarmid](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adistarmid)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-do-you-convert-a-hexadecimal-number-to-a-binary-number/139046/6 "2008-05-30T15:53:22Z")

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number.to\_s(2)

2008/5/30, Bob S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid):