How to Read Binary Code
“Reading” binary code typically means translating a binary number into a base 10 (decimal) number that people are familiar with. This conversion is simple enough to perform in your head once you understand how the binary language works. Each digit location in a binary number has a specific value if the digit isn’t a zero. Once you’ve determined all those values, you simply add them together to get the base 10 (decimal) value of the binary number. To see how this works, take the binary number 11001010.
Signed Binary Numbers
The method above works for basic, unsigned binary numbers. However, computers need a way to represent negative numbers using binary as well. Because of this, computers use signed binary numbers. In this type of system, the leftmost digit is known as the sign bit, while the remaining digits are known as the magnitude bits. Reading a signed binary number is almost the same as unsigned, with one minor difference.
Understanding Binary Numbers
If you’re interested in learning how to read binary, it’s important to understand how binary numbers work. Binary is known as a “base 2” numbering system, meaning there are two possible numbers for each digit; a one or a zero. Larger numbers are written by adding additional ones or zeros to the binary number. Knowing how to read binary isn’t critical for using computers, but it’s good to understand the concept to gain a better appreciation for how computers store numbers in memory. It also allows you to understand terms like 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit, and memory measurements like bytes (8 bits).
