How to Print Binary in Python

In the digital world, binary representation plays a fundamental role. At the most basic level, computers understand only 1s and 0s, which make up the binary number system. Whether you’re dealing with numbers, text, or more complex data, it’s all represented in binary at the hardware level.

Python provides built-in tools and functions to work with binary numbers. This tutorial aims to provide an in-depth understanding of binary representation in Python and show you how to convert, manipulate, and understand binary data. of Content

What are Binary Numbers?

Binary numbers are based on powers of 2, unlike the decimal system which is based on powers of 10. The binary number system uses only two digits: 0 and 1. For example.

How to Print Binary in Python

1. Using the bin() Function

The built-in Python function bin() provides a simple way to convert an integer to its binary representation.

Example:

num =13  
binary_representation = bin(num) 
print(binary_representation)

Output

0b1101

The prefix “0b” indicates a binary representation. To get just the binary digits, you can slice the string:

print(binary_representation[2:])

Output

1101

2. Manipulating Binary Strings

Once you have a binary string, you can manipulate it like any other string in Python. For instance, to find the length of a binary representation:

num = 13binary_representation = bin(num)[2:]  
length = len(binary_representation)    
print(f"Length of binary representation of {num} is: {length}")

Output

Length of binary representation of 13 is: 4

You can also reverse the binary string.

reversed_binary = binary_representation[::-1] 
print(reversed_binary)

Output:

1011

3. Binary Representation of Bytes

In computing, a byte is a unit of digital information composed of 8 bits. Python allows you to format integers as bytes, ensuring they are 8-bits long.

num = 5 
byte_representation = f"{num:08b}" 
print(byte_representation)

Output:

00000101

Using the :08b format specification, the number is formatted in binary (with the ‘b’) and padded with zeros to be 8 characters wide. This is especially useful when working directly with byte-oriented data structures or protocols.

Converting Back from Binary

Python also provides a way to convert a binary string back to an integer using the int() function.

binary_str = "1101" 
decimal_num = int(binary_str, 2)
print(decimal_num)

Output:

13

In the int() function, the second argument (2) specifies that the string should be interpreted as a base-2 number.

Conclusion

Binary representation is a foundational concept in computing. Understanding and working with binary data is essential, especially when dealing with low-level data manipulation, computer networks, or understanding the inner workings of software.

Python, with its built-in functionalities, offers a beginner-friendly platform for anyone looking into the world of binary numbers. As you grow in your coding journey, you’ll find more ways to work with binary and other base representations.