Convert text into octal, base 8, at three digits per byte. Octal still appears in Unix file permissions, older C escape sequences and some protocol dumps.
Show calculation steps
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Bytes in base 8
Octal writes each byte as three digits, 000 to 377. It survives mainly in Unix: file permissions, some escape sequences in C strings, and older documentation. Outside those, hexadecimal has replaced it, because four bits per digit aligns with byte boundaries and three bits does not.
Worked example
"Hi" → 110 151 (72 and 105 in octal)
"A" → 101 0o101 = 65 = A
\101 is the same byte in a C string literalWhy three digits
One octal digit is three bits, so a byte needs three digits and the top one only reaches 3. Fixed-width output keeps byte boundaries visible, which is the same reason hex dumps keep leading zeros.
Where you meet octal text
C and Python string escapes, some serial protocols, and older Unix tooling whose output predates the hexadecimal convention. If you are reading a modern format, hex is far more likely to be what you want.
Limits
Output is UTF-8 bytes in base 8. Octal is a notation, not an encoding for transport — it is bulky and nothing negotiates it. Conversion runs in your browser.
How to use the Text to Octal
- Paste your text.
- Choose the unit and separator.
- Click "Convert to octal".
Frequently asked questions
Where is octal still used?
Mainly in Unix file permissions, where 755 and 644 are octal digit triples, and in older C-style escape sequences. It appears occasionally in legacy protocol dumps. For general byte work, hex has largely replaced it.
Why three digits per byte?
Each octal digit carries three bits, so eight bits need three digits – which can represent up to 511, more than a byte requires. The padding makes the columns line up.
