Binary to Octal Converter Made Simple

How the Conversion Works

Binary and octal are both powers of 2, so each octal digit corresponds to exactly 3 binary bits (since 2 cubed = 8). The tool pads your binary input with leading zeros until its length is a multiple of 3, splits it into 3-bit groups, and converts each group independently.

Worked Example: Binary to Octal

Convert 110101101 (9 bits, already a multiple of 3) to octal: split into 110 | 101 | 101. Each group converts on its own: 110 = 6, 101 = 5, 101 = 5. The result is 655. Check: 110101101 in binary equals 429 in decimal, and 6x64 + 5x8 + 5x1 = 384 + 40 + 5 = 429 - the two representations match.

Worked Example: Octal to Binary

Convert 573 back to binary: 5 = 101, 7 = 111, 3 = 011, giving 101111011. Checking the decimal value: octal 573 = 5x64 + 7x8 + 3 = 379, and binary 101111011 = 256+64+32+16+8+2+1 = 379.

Input Rules

The binary field only accepts 0 and 1; the octal field only accepts 0 through 7. Anything outside those ranges (including an 8 or 9 typed into the octal box) triggers a validation message instead of a result.

What the Step List Shows

Rather than just printing a final answer, the tool lists every 3-bit group next to its converted digit, which mirrors how you'd work the conversion by hand on paper - useful for checking a homework answer rather than just copying a result.