How To Make A Binary Converter In Python

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a binary converter using Python. A binary converter is a program that can convert decimal numbers into binary numbers or vice versa. Binary numbers are used extensively in computer systems, especially for data representation and processing.

Step 1: Accept User Input

First, let’s start by accepting user input for the number that needs to be converted. The input can either be a decimal number or a binary number. To accept user input, you can use the input() function in Python.

For this tutorial, we will use two different functions, one for binary-to-decimal conversion and the other for decimal-to-binary conversion.

The get_user_input() function takes the user’s input and returns the choice (1 or 2) and the corresponding input number.

Step 2: Create Binary Conversion Functions

Now, let’s create two functions for binary-to-decimal and decimal-to-binary conversions.

For decimal-to-binary conversion, we will use the bin() function, which converts a decimal integer to a binary string. However, the output string will have a prefix ‘0b’, which we will remove using string slicing.

For binary-to-decimal conversion, we will use the int() function, which takes two arguments: the binary string and its base (2 for binary). The int() function will convert the binary string to an integer.

Step 3: Call Functions and Display Output

Now that we have implemented the conversion functions, let’s call the appropriate function based on user input and display the conversion result.

The main() function calls the get_user_input() function to get the user’s choice and input number. It then calls either decimal_to_binary() or binary_to_decimal() based on the choice and prints the result.

Full Code

Output

Enter 1 for Decimal to Binary conversion or 2 for Binary to Decimal conversion: 1
Enter a decimal number: 45
The binary representation of the number is: 101101
Enter 1 for Decimal to Binary conversion or 2 for Binary to Decimal conversion: 2
Enter a binary number: 101101
The decimal representation of the number is: 45

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have learned how to create a binary converter in Python that can convert decimal numbers to binary and vice versa. This can be helpful when working with computer systems, where binary numbers are used extensively. Additionally, learning about binary conversion concepts helps build a solid foundation in understanding how data is represented and manipulated within computer systems.