A binary code translator turns readable text into the raw binary a computer actually stores, and turns that binary back into text, using the same 8-bit ASCII rule in both directions.
The word “code” in this search points at something specific: people usually want to see what their own name, a message, or a piece of source code looks like once it is broken all the way down to the 1s and 0s a machine works with.
What Is Binary Code, Briefly
Every piece of data on a computer, whether it started as a typed sentence or a compiled program, ends up stored as binary, because a computer’s hardware only reliably recognizes two electrical states. For the full explanation, see what binary code is and how it works.
How a Binary Code Translator Works
Going from text to binary, each character is converted to its decimal position in the ASCII table and that decimal number is written out as an 8-digit binary byte. Going from binary to text reverses the process: each byte is read back to decimal, then matched to its character.
A Worked Example
Translating “Go” gives two bytes: G is 71, which is 01000111, and o is 111, which is 01101111. Put together, “Go” becomes 01000111 01101111 in binary code.
Try It Yourself
Our binary code translator runs both directions instantly in your browser, nothing you type is uploaded anywhere. For more on the translation process itself, see our binary translator guide.