IPv6: Base Explanations
Binary:
The binary number system is base 2. The only numbers in the system are 0 and 1.
In binary, numbering follows powers of 2 instead of powers of 10 like in decimal.
Decimal: 11000210031041 = 1234
Binary: 18141211 = 15
If a 0 is present, the value is not counted since 0 to any power is still 0.
| Decimal |
Binary |
| 0 |
0000 |
| 1 |
0001 |
| 2 |
0010 |
| 3 |
0011 |
| 4 |
0100 |
| 5 |
0101 |
| 6 |
0110 |
| 7 |
0111 |
| 8 |
1000 |
| 9 |
1001 |
| 10 |
1010 |
| 11 |
1011 |
| 12 |
1100 |
| 13 |
1101 |
| 14 |
1110 |
| 15 |
1111 |
For purposes of understanding IPv6 addressing, it is not necessary to be familiar with anything higher than the table above.
Hexadecimal:
Unlike base 10 which most people are used to, hexadecimal is base 16. So instead of carrying a 1 after counting to 9 like in decimal, you will instead place an A and go through F.
| Decimal |
Hexadecimal |
| 0 |
0 |
| 1 |
1 |
| 2 |
2 |
| 3 |
3 |
| 4 |
4 |
| 5 |
5 |
| 6 |
6 |
| 7 |
7 |
| 8 |
8 |
| 9 |
9 |
| 10 |
A |
| 11 |
B |
| 12 |
C |
| 13 |
D |
| 14 |
E |
| 15 |
F |
F is the final letter used in hexadecimal notation. After F, hexadecimal operates like base 10 in that you carry a 1. Ex: C D E F 10 11 12 … 1F 20 21 22, etc
Bit and Nibble:
A bit is defined as a binary digit. This means a bit can either be 0 or 1.
A nibble is comprised of 4 bits. Ex: 0011, 0101, etc.
Bits and nibbles are important in understanding how hexadecimal notation works. Each hexadecimal digit is one nibble. So in the previous table 3 = 0011, 7 = 0111, B = 1011, etc.
To convert from a string of bits to hexadecimal, first group the bits into nibbles:
Initial string: 0011110110000000
Separated into nibbles: 0011 1101 1000 0000
Finally convert each nibble into its hexadecimal equivalent:
Hexadecimal string: 3 D 8 0
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3/20/2024 8:55:14 AM