A powerful tool for programmers to perform bitwise operations and convert numbers between Binary, Octal, Decimal, and Hexadecimal bases.
Bitwise operations are performed on the binary (bit-level) representation of integers:
Let's calculate 12 XOR 25:
The Technical Calculator is a specialized tool designed for programmers, computer science students, and hardware engineers who work with low-level data representations. Unlike standard calculators, it operates on the principles of computer arithmetic, allowing users to perform bitwise logical operations and seamlessly convert numbers between the four most common bases used in computing: decimal (base-10), binary (base-2), octal (base-8), and hexadecimal (base-16). This functionality is essential for tasks such as data masking, setting or clearing bits in hardware registers, and understanding data encoding and encryption.
At its core, the Technical Calculator handles all values as integers and performs operations on their underlying binary patterns. It features a robust set of bitwise operators, including AND, OR, NOT, XOR, and bit shifts (LSHIFT, RSHIFT). These operations are fundamental building blocks in digital logic design and are used extensively in programming languages like C, C++, Java, and Python for efficient, low-level manipulation of data. For example, the AND operator is often used for "masking"—a process of extracting specific bits from a value—while the OR operator is used to set specific bits to 1. An in-depth guide to these concepts can be found on Wikipedia's page on Bitwise Operations.
A key feature that distinguishes the Technical Calculator is its context-aware interface. The tool intelligently validates user input based on the selected number system, preventing errors such as entering the digit '8' in octal mode or the letter 'A' in decimal mode. Furthermore, the calculator's ability to instantly convert numbers between bases upon selection makes it an invaluable educational aid for those learning about data representation. The logic for the NOT operator is also carefully implemented to account for word size (8, 16, 32, or 64-bit), accurately simulating how two's complement arithmetic works on real hardware. For structured learning on these topics, resources like the tutorials on GeeksforGeeks provide excellent practical examples.
The user experience is designed for efficiency, with a clean layout, immediate results, and helpful features like calculation history and a one-click copy button. Whether you are debugging network protocols, developing embedded systems, or simply studying for a computer architecture exam, the Technical Calculator provides the accuracy and functionality required for technical work. By simplifying complex bitwise math and base conversions, this tool empowers users to focus on problem-solving rather than manual, error-prone calculations.
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The input fields are restricted based on the selected number base. For example, in Binary (BIN) mode, you can only type '0' and '1'. In Decimal (DEC) mode, you can only type digits '0-9'. This prevents invalid input for the chosen base.
The 'Word Size' setting is specifically for the NOT operation. A bitwise NOT flips all bits in a number. The word size defines how many bits are in that number (e.g., 8 bits for a byte). NOT 10 (00001010) as an 8-bit number gives a different result than as a 32-bit number.
This is an intentional feature. When you switch the base (e.g., from Decimal to Hexadecimal), the calculator automatically converts the numbers in the input fields to their equivalent value in the new base for your convenience.
For the Left Shift (<<) and Right Shift (>>) operations, "Number 1" is the value to be shifted, and "Number 2" is the number of bit positions to shift by.