What base system is used for hexadecimal numbers?

Hexadecimal numbers are represented in base 16. This means that the numeral system employs 16 distinct symbols to represent values. The symbols are the numbers 0-9, which represent values zero through nine, and the letters A-F, which represent values ten through fifteen.

In this system, each digit's position represents a power of 16. For example, the hexadecimal number 1A3 can be broken down into (1 * 16^2) + (10 * 16^1) + (3 * 16^0), which equals 419 in decimal form. Hexadecimal is widely used in computing and digital electronics because it is more compact than binary (base 2) and easier for humans to read than long binary strings. Therefore, understanding that hexadecimal corresponds to base 16 is crucial for interpreting and working with data presented in this format.