How to convert binary to text
- Paste the binary into Input. Bytes can be separated by spaces, commas or new lines, or written as one long run.
- The decoded text appears in the output straight away.
- Copy the text, or switch to Text to binary to go the other way.
Decoding binary by hand
Split the binary into groups of eight bits. In each group, the positions from left to right are worth 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2 and 1. Add the values where there’s a 1, then look the number up in an ASCII table: 01001000 is 64 + 8 = 72, which is H, and 01101001 is 64 + 32 + 8 + 1 = 105, which is i.
Where you see binary messages
Binary turns up in puzzles, escape rooms, geocaches, tattoos and programming homework. It’s also how data looks at the lowest level, although real files are almost always shown in hexadecimal instead, because two hex digits are much easier to read than eight bits.