The octal number system uses eight symbols.
Understanding Octal
The octal number system is a base-8 system, meaning it uses eight unique symbols to represent numbers. These symbols are the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Contrast with Other Number Systems
- Decimal (Base-10): Uses ten symbols (0-9).
- Binary (Base-2): Uses two symbols (0 and 1).
- Hexadecimal (Base-16): Uses sixteen symbols (0-9 and A-F).
Practical Applications
Octal is used in various fields, including:
- Computer Science: Representing memory addresses and file permissions.
- Telecommunications: Encoding data.
