About the Binary Translator
Tezmy's Binary Translator turns any text into binary code, the 0s and 1s computers store, and turns binary back into readable words. It can also use hexadecimal (hex), a shorter way to write the same bytes. Letters are encoded as UTF-8, the standard used across the web, so accented letters, other alphabets and emoji all work both ways. The translation happens in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.
Updated September 2026
How to use the Binary Translator
- 1Choose Text → Binary to encode, or Binary → Text to decode.
- 2Pick Binary (0 and 1) or Hex.
- 3Type or paste into the left box. The result appears on the right as you type.
- 4Copy the result, or press Swap to send it back the other way.
How text becomes binary
Every character has a number. In the Unicode table that the whole web uses, A is 65, a is 97 and a space is 32. UTF-8 then stores that number as one to four bytes, and each byte is written as 8 binary digits. So the letter A becomes 01000001, and a word becomes one byte after another, separated by spaces here to make them easy to read.
Going the other way, the tool splits the binary into bytes, turns each one back into a number and reads those numbers as UTF-8 text.
Pasting binary in different formats
Binary you find online is written in many ways. The decoder accepts the common ones:
- Bytes separated by spaces: 01001000 01101001.
- One long string with no spaces: 0100100001101001 (read 8 digits at a time).
- Bytes separated by commas or new lines.
- Bytes with a 0b prefix (0b01001000) or hex with a 0x prefix (0x48).
Binary, hex and other codes
Binary and hex are two ways to write exactly the same bytes: the Swap button lets you check that a translation comes back to the text you started with. Hex is four times shorter, which is why it is used for colours (#FF0000), file checksums and memory addresses.
Other codes do different jobs. Morse code turns letters into dots and dashes for sound or light signals; try the Morse Code Translator for that. Base64 turns any data into letters and numbers so it can travel in emails and web links; see the Base64 Encoder & Decoder.
Fun uses and classroom ideas
- Write a secret message to a friend in binary and let them decode it here.
- Spell your name in binary for a bracelet, a knitting pattern or a T-shirt.
- Show students why computers need 8 bits per letter and why emoji need more.
- Check puzzle and escape-room clues written in 0s and 1s.
On your phone or computer
The translator works in any browser. On a phone, the result box appears below the text box, so you can type and scroll down to copy. Long binary text can be several screens long, so the Copy result button is the quickest way to take all of it.
Features
- Text to binary and binary to text
- Text to hex and hex to text
- UTF-8, so every language and emoji work
- Reads binary with or without spaces
- Ignores 0b and 0x prefixes and commas
- Clear error when the code isn't valid
- Swap button to check a translation both ways
Frequently asked questions
How do I translate binary to text?
Choose Binary → Text, then paste your binary code into the left box. Each group of 8 digits (one byte) becomes a letter, and the text appears on the right straight away. Spaces between the bytes are optional.
What is “Hello” in binary?
“Hello” is 01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111. Each letter has a number in the character table (H is 72, e is 101) and each number is written in binary with 8 digits.
Why are there 8 digits for each letter?
Computers store text in bytes, and one byte is 8 bits (8 binary digits), which can hold any number from 0 to 255. Plain English letters, digits and punctuation need one byte each, so each one becomes a group of 8 digits.
Can I translate emoji and other languages to binary?
Yes. The tool uses UTF-8, so letters like é, ü or ñ, scripts like Arabic, Hindi or Chinese, and emoji all work. They simply take more than one byte: é uses 2 bytes and most emoji use 4, so you'll see 2 or 4 groups of 8 digits for them.
What does “These bytes don't form valid text” mean?
The binary was read fine, but the bytes don't make valid UTF-8 text. This usually means a byte is missing or has a wrong digit, or the code was made from something that isn't text, like part of an image. Check that every byte has 8 digits.
What is hex, and when should I use it?
Hex (hexadecimal) writes each byte with two characters from 0–9 and A–F instead of eight 0s and 1s, so “Hi” is 48 69. Programmers use it because it is much shorter and easier to read than binary.
Does it convert numbers to binary?
It converts the characters you type, so typing “5” gives the code for the digit 5 (00110101), not the number five in binary (101). To change a number between decimal, binary and hex, use the Number Base Converter.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. The translation runs in your browser on your own device, and nothing you type is uploaded or saved.