Editing Positional notation (section)

=== Computing ===
In [[computing]], the [[Binary numeral system|binary]] (base-2), octal (base-8) and [[hexadecimal]] (base-16) bases are most commonly used. Computers, at the most basic level, deal only with sequences of conventional zeroes and ones, thus it is easier in this sense to deal with powers of two. The hexadecimal system is used as "shorthand" for binary—every 4 binary digits (bits) relate to one and only one hexadecimal digit. In hexadecimal, the six digits after 9 are denoted by A, B, C, D, E, and F (and sometimes a, b, c, d, e, and f).

The [[octal]] numbering system is also used as another way to represent binary numbers. In this case the base is 8 and therefore only digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are used. When converting from binary to octal every 3 bits relate to one and only one octal digit.

Hexadecimal, decimal, octal, and a wide variety of other bases have been used for [[binary-to-text encoding]], implementations of [[arbitrary-precision arithmetic]], and other applications.

''For a list of bases and their applications, see [[list of numeral systems]].''