Do you want to know how computers decipher instructions and human language? We utilize the decimal system, but computers, as we know, understand binary. Our ability to cross this gap and translate between the two is crucial. Let’s examine the process of converting binary to decimal.
What are Binary and Decimal Number Systems?
There are two different mathematical notations for representing and working with numbers: binary and decimal. Different bases and symbols represent values. Below is an explanation of each system:
System of Binary Numbers
There are just two digits in the binary number system, also called the base-2 system: 0 and 1.
A binary number’s digits each represent a power of two. 2^0 (1) is the digit on the right, followed by 2^1 (2), 2^2 (4), and so forth.
Because binary numbers precisely correlate to the on-off nature of electrical circuits, they are frequently utilized in digital electronics and computing. Generally speaking, 0 denotes “off” or “false,” whereas 1 denotes “on” or “true.”
For instance, the decimal value 13 is obtained by translating the binary number “1101,” which is 1 * 2^3 + 1 * 2^2 + 0 * 2^1 + 1 * 2^0.
System of Decimal Numbers
The decimal number system, often called the base-10 system, is the most widely used numerical system worldwide. It is made up of ten numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Each digit of a decimal number represents a power of ten. The first number is 100 (1), the second is 101 (10), the third is 102 (100), and so on.
For instance, 1 * 103 + 2 * 102 + 3 * 101 + 4 * 00, or 1000 + 200 + 30 + 4, represents the decimal number “1234”, yielding the value 1234.
How Can Python Convert Binary to Decimal Numbers?
Let’s begin with the distinction between the binary and decimal systems, which you must first understand. Base-10 is decimal, while Base-2 is binary. Only the numbers 0 and 1 function as digits in binary; however, 0 through 9 are used as decimals. The procedures for converting binary to decimal are as follows:
Step 1 – Choosing a Binary Number:
The binary number is first converted to a binary integer, which is a decimal representation. ‘0’ or ‘1’ should be the characters in the string that is used as the input to represent this number.
Step 2 – The use of int() Function
The second and third kinds of text can be converted to a decimal integer using Python’s int() method. You can choose the nature of converting the input string when you employ int().
Step 3 – Conversion of int() Function:
The int() method is called with two arguments:
It will be necessary to transform the first argument from a binary string.
Base, one of the additional parameters, is set to 2, emphasizing that the input given is in binary format.
Step 4 – Result:
The int() function takes the binary input and outputs the decimal equivalent of the integer value of the Binary.
Step 5 – Keep or Apply the Decimal Value:
The decimal result can be used in a mathematical calculation or saved in a variable for later use.
Step 6 – Showing the Final Result:
You must use the print() function to show the conversion result in the console to view it.
Various Methods to Convert Binary to Decimal in Python
Option 1: Python Program to Convert Binary to Decimal Using Base Logic Code
With this approach, base logic is used to complete the conversion manually. Digit by digit, the binary number is processed, multiplying each one by 2, raised to the power of its position (beginning at 0 0 on the right).
# Function to convert binary to decimal using base logic
def binary_to_decimal(binary_str):
decimal_value = 0
power = 0
# Traverse the binary number from right to left
for digit in reversed(binary_str):
decimal_value += int(digit) * (2 ** power)
power += 1
return decimal_value
# Input binary number
binary_number = input(“Enter a binary number: “)
decimal_number = binary_to_decimal(binary_number)
print(f”Decimal equivalent of binary ‘{binary_number}’ is: {decimal_number}”)
To justify:
In reverse order, the binary number is explored.
Starting at zero, each digit is multiplied by two and elevated to its proper position from the right.
The results are added to determine the decimal equivalent.
Input/Output Example:
Enter: 1011
Output: Binary ‘1011’ has the decimal equivalent of 11
Option 2: Python Program to Convert Binary to Decimal Using Inbuilt Functions
Python’s built-in int() function makes translating binary numbers to decimals easier. All you have to do is pass the binary string with the base set to 2.
# Function to convert binary to decimal using inbuilt function
def binary_to_decimal_inbuilt(binary_str):
return int(binary_str, 2)
# Input binary number
binary_number = input(“Enter a binary number: “)
decimal_number = binary_to_decimal_inbuilt(binary_number)
print(f”Decimal equivalent of binary ‘{binary_number}’ is: {decimal_number}”)
To justify:
The string to be converted and the input string’s base (in this case, 2 for binary) are the two arguments that the int() function requires.
The conversion is handled automatically, and the decimal value is returned.
Input/Output Example:
1101 was entered.
Binary ‘1101’ has the decimal equivalent of 13 in the output.
The Bottom Line
Python provides multiple straightforward methods for converting binary to decimal, making it a versatile language for numerical operations. This skill is very useful in many fields, including computer science, engineering, finance, and data analysis. In today’s data-driven business environment, having the capacity to quickly convert between binary and decimal not only improves data processing but also makes it possible to make better decisions. These conversion methods can be combined by businesses to provide precise and effective computation in their operations for activities like data processing and real-time analytics.
