Text to ASCII Binary
Convert text into its binary (base-2) byte representation, or decode binary back into readable text.
Result
Recommended Settings
Pro Tips
- •Each character is converted to its UTF-8 byte value(s) first, then each byte is shown as 8 binary digits separated by spaces
- •Multi-byte characters like emoji or accented letters produce multiple 8-bit groups per character, since UTF-8 encodes them as more than one byte
- •When decoding, binary groups are read back as UTF-8 bytes, so the exact grouping and spacing matters for multi-byte characters
- •Use the swap button to quickly verify a round-trip by feeding the output back in as input
Most Popular
Most people convert a short word or phrase to binary for a puzzle, teaching example, or novelty message
When to Use This Tool
See exactly how each character maps to an 8-bit binary byte value.
Convert a binary-encoded message from a puzzle or riddle back into readable text.
Demonstrate the relationship between text, bytes, and binary in a classroom setting.
Encode a short message into binary for a t-shirt, tattoo, or fun gift.
How It Works
Encode your text into UTF-8 bytes using standard character encoding
Convert each byte to its 8-digit binary representation and join them with spaces
For decoding, split the binary string into 8-bit groups, convert each back to a byte, and decode the resulting bytes as UTF-8 text
100% Private
Files never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.
Lightning Fast
Powered by Client-side UTF-8 and binary encoding for optimal performance on modern browsers.
Open Source
Built with verified, open-source libraries. Fully transparent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does one letter sometimes produce more than 8 binary digits?
Characters outside the basic ASCII range, like emoji or accented letters, are encoded as multiple UTF-8 bytes, so they produce more than one 8-bit group.
Does spacing between binary groups matter when decoding?
Yes, each group of up to 8 binary digits is treated as one byte, so groups need to be separated by whitespace for correct decoding.
What happens if I enter invalid binary?
The tool checks that your input contains only 0s and 1s in valid 8-bit groups - anything else is flagged as invalid rather than producing garbled output.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. All conversion happens locally in your browser.