Python hex()

Built-in function Python hex() converts an integer into its hexadecimal representation. The hexadecimal system uses base-16, and the result returned by hex() is a string that starts with the prefix "0x." This function is useful whenever you need to work with or display numbers in hexadecimal format, which is common in areas like low-level programming and computer architecture.
Table of Contents

Understanding Python hex() Function

Python hex() is a built-in function that converts an integer to its lowercase hexadecimal string representation. The hexadecimal representation is a base-16 number system, using the digits 0-9 and the letters a-f (or A-F). The string returned by Python hex() is always prefixed with “0x” to indicate that it’s a hexadecimal value. This function is useful when working with or displaying numbers in hexadecimal format, and it is common in low-level programming, computer architecture, and certain types of data representation.

Syntax of Python hex()

hexadecimal_string = hex(integer)

Explanation

  • hexadecimal_string: Variable will store the hexadecimal string returned by hex().
  • hex(): Built-in function that performs the integer-to-hexadecimal conversion.
  • integer: Integer you want to convert to hexadecimal. It is used as input for hex() function.

Example of Python hex()

hex_value = hex(255)
print(hex_value)

Explanation

  • hex_value = hex(255): Converts the integer 255 to its hexadecimal representation and assigns it to hex_value.
  • print(hex_value): Prints the value of hex_value, which is “0xff”.

Output

0xff

hex() Parameters

Python hex() function takes only one parameter, an integer. This integer can be positive, negative, or zero. hex() will then convert this integer into its hexadecimal string representation. If you pass a non-integer value, hex() will raise a TypeError.

Syntax

hexadecimal_string = hex(integer)

Example

hex_value = hex(-42)
print(hex_value)

Explanation

  • hex_value = hex(-42): Converts the integer -42 to its hexadecimal representation and assigns it to hex_value.
  • print(hex_value): Prints the value of hex_value, which is “-0x2a”.

Output

-0x2a

hex() Return Value

Python hex() function always returns a string. This string represents the hexadecimal equivalent of the integer you passed as input. The returned string starts with the prefix “0x”, indicating that it’s a hexadecimal value. The rest of the string contains the hexadecimal digits, using lowercase letters (a-f) for values 10-15. Even if you pass a negative integer, the returned string will represent the magnitude of the number in hexadecimal, preceded by a minus sign.

Example

hex_representation = hex(0)
print(hex_representation)

Explanation

  • hex_representation = hex(0): Converts the integer 0 to its hexadecimal representation (which is still 0) and assigns it to hex_representation.
  • print(hex_representation): Prints the value of hex_representation, which is “0x0”.

Output

0x0

Python hex() Function For ASCII and Float Value

Python hex() function is designed to work with integers only. If you pass a float value, it will raise a TypeError. If you pass an ASCII character, you first need to get its integer representation and then pass that integer to hex(). You can get the integer representation of the character using the ord() function.

Syntax

#For Float
#hex(float_number) #This will produce TypeError

#For ASCII value
hexadecimal_string = hex(ord(character))

Explanation

  • #hex(float_number): Shows hex() directly used on float.
  • #This will produce TypeError: Indicates that hex(float_number) is not allowed in Python and it will raise TypeError.
  • hexadecimal_string: Variable will store the hexadecimal string.
  • hex(): Function used on integer to get hexadecimal.
  • ord(): Function is used to get integer representation of the character.
  • character: ASCII character you would convert if the syntax were valid.

Example

# float
try:
    print(hex(3.14))
except TypeError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")

# ASCII
char = 'A'
hex_representation = hex(ord(char))
print(hex_representation)

Explanation

  • try: Tries to execute the code.
  • print(hex(3.14)): Tries to pass float to hex() which will raise exception.
  • except TypeError as e: Catches TypeError.
  • print(f"Error: {e}"): Prints the error.
  • char = 'A': Assigns the character ‘A’ to char.
  • hex_representation = hex(ord(char)): Converts ‘A’ to its ASCII integer value (65) using ord(), then to hexadecimal using hex().
  • print(hex_representation): Prints the hexadecimal representation of the ASCII value of ‘A’.

Output

Error: ‘float’ object cannot be interpreted as an integer
0x41

Python hex() Function Perform Bitwise Operations

You can use the Python hex() function in conjunction with bitwise operations. Bitwise operations are performed on integers at the level of their bits. After performing a bitwise operation, you can use hex() to get the hexadecimal representation of the result. This is useful for visualizing the effects of bitwise operations, as hexadecimal is often used to represent binary data.

Syntax

result = hex(integer1 operator integer2)

Explanation

  • result: Variable will store the hexadecimal string representation of the result.
  • hex(): Function converts the result of the bitwise operation to hexadecimal.
  • integer1: First integer.
  • operator: Bitwise operator (e.g., &, |, ^, ~, <<, >>).
  • integer2: Second integer. It is used with integer1 and operator.

Example

num1 = 0b1010  # 10 in binary
num2 = 0b1100  # 12 in binary
bitwise_and = num1 & num2
hex_result = hex(bitwise_and)
print(hex_result)

Explanation

  • num1 = 0b1010: Initializes num1 with the binary value 1010 (decimal 10).
  • num2 = 0b1100: Initializes num2 with the binary value 1100 (decimal 12).
  • bitwise_and = num1 & num2: Performs a bitwise AND operation between num1 and num2.
  • hex_result = hex(bitwise_and): Converts the result of the bitwise AND to hexadecimal and stores in hex_result.
  • print(hex_result): Prints the hexadecimal representation of the result.

Output

0x8

Python hex() Function for Different Conversion

Python hex() function is designed to convert integers to their hexadecimal string representation. You can use different base representations of numbers as input to hex(), but remember that you can only pass integers. If the input value is not an integer, you’ll get a TypeError.

Syntax

hex_string = hex(integer_value)

Explanation

  • hex_string: Variable will store the hexadecimal string.
  • hex(): Function converts the integer_value to a hexadecimal string.
  • integer_value: Integer value (represented in decimal, binary, octal etc). It is used as input for hex().

Example

decimal_num = 255
binary_num = 0b11111111  # 255 in binary
octal_num = 0o377       # 255 in octal

hex_decimal = hex(decimal_num)
hex_binary = hex(binary_num)
hex_octal = hex(octal_num)

print(hex_decimal)
print(hex_binary)
print(hex_octal)

Explanation

  • decimal_num = 255: Initializes a decimal integer.
  • binary_num = 0b11111111: Initializes a binary integer (255 in decimal).
  • octal_num = 0o377: Initializes an octal integer (255 in decimal).
  • hex_decimal = hex(decimal_num): Converts the decimal number to hexadecimal.
  • hex_binary = hex(binary_num): Converts the binary number to hexadecimal.
  • hex_octal = hex(octal_num): Converts the octal number to hexadecimal.
  • print(hex_decimal): Prints the hexadecimal representation of the decimal number.
  • print(hex_binary): Prints the hexadecimal representation of the binary number.
  • print(hex_octal): Prints the hexadecimal representation of the octal number.

Output

0xff
0xff
0xff

Python hex() Function with TypeError

If you try to use the Python hex() function with a non-integer argument (like a float, string, or list), you’ll get a TypeError. This is because hex() is designed to work specifically with integers. To convert other data types to hexadecimal, you would typically first convert them to integers using the appropriate methods or functions.

Syntax

# This will raise a TypeError
hex_value = hex(non_integer_value)

Explanation

  • hex_value: Store the hexadecimal string if the input were valid.
  • hex(): Function expects an integer argument.
  • non_integer_value: Value that is not an integer (e.g., a float, string, list). It is used as incorrect input for hex().

Example

try:
    hex_result = hex(3.14)
    print(hex_result)
except TypeError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")

Explanation

  • try:: Block attempts to execute code that might raise a TypeError.
  • hex_result = hex(3.14): Attempts to call hex() with a float, which will raise a TypeError.
  • print(hex_result): Print the result if no error occurred.
  • except TypeError as e:: Block catches the TypeError.
  • print(f"Error: {e}"): Prints the error message.

Output

Error: ‘float’ object cannot be interpreted as an integer

Conclusion

Python hex() function helps convert integers into their hexadecimal string representations. This function is designed to work with integers; it will raise a TypeError if you try using it with non-integer values. The hex() function plays nice with bitwise operations as well. You can convert different number systems into hexadecimal as well. Remember, the output of Python hex() is always a string that starts with the prefix “0x”. Understanding how hex() works, its limitations, and how it interacts with bitwise operations is essential for effectively working with hexadecimal values in Python.

Also Read

Python help()

Python hash()

Python Reference

python hex()