Octalnumeral system, or oct for short, is the base-8 number system, and uses the digits 0 to 7. Octal numerals can be made from binary numerals by grouping consecutive binary digits into groups of three (starting from the right). For example, the binary representation for decimal 74 is 1001010. Two zeroes can be added at the left: (00)1 001 010, corresponding the octal digits 1 1 2, yielding the octal representation 112.
In the decimal system each decimal place is a power of ten. For example:
74 10 = 7 × 10 1 + 4 × 10 0 {\displaystyle \mathbf {74} _{10}=\mathbf {7} \times 10^{1}+\mathbf {4} \times 10^{0}} {\mathbf {74}}_{{10}}={\mathbf {7}}\times 10^{1}+{\mathbf {4}}\times 10^{0}
In the octal system each place is a power of eight. For example:
112 8 = 1 × 8 2 + 1 × 8 1 + 2 × 8 0 {\displaystyle \mathbf {112} _{8}=\mathbf {1} \times 8^{2}+\mathbf {1} \times 8^{1}+\mathbf {2} \times 8^{0}} {\mathbf {112}}_{8}={\mathbf {1}}\times 8^{2}+{\mathbf {1}}\times 8^{1}+{\mathbf {2}}\times 8^{0}
By performing the calculation above in the familiar decimal system we see why 112 in octal is equal to 64+8+2 = 74 in decimal.
Binary is the simplest kind of number system that uses only two digits of 0 and 1. By using these digits computational problems can be solved by machines because in digital electronics a transistor is used in two states. Those two states can be represented by 0 and 1. That is why this number system is the most preferred in modern computer engineer, networking and communication specialists, and other professionals.
Related converters:
Binary To Octal Converter