A packet begins as bytes. This lesson shows how one byte can be read as hex, binary, or decimal while the bit pattern stays fixed.

highlighted = computed this step

What a byte shows

A packet is carried as bytes, and a byte is a fixed-width group of 8 bits. The strip below shows the actual bits, not a separate label.

byte bits=8\text{byte bits}=8

One byte, three views

One byte is 8 bits on the wire. This byte is 0x45, binary 01000101, and decimal 69.

0x4501000101690x45\leftrightarrow01000101\leftrightarrow69
A byte on the wireThe rendered bits are sliced from the exact byte.One byte8 bits / 1 byte0x45byte 001000101first-octet01000101

Decode it again

Apply the same rule to 0x3c: binary 00111100 and decimal 60. The byte width did not change.

0x3c00111100600x3c\leftrightarrow00111100\leftrightarrow60
Decode another byteThe same byte-width rule is applied again.0x3c8 bits / 1 byte0x3cbyte 000111100first-octet00111100

Summary

A byte can be read as hex, bits, or decimal, but the strip fixes the bits first. Byte layout only; timing/throughput is not modeled here. Timing/throughput is not modeled here — only the exact byte layout.

byte width=8\text{byte width}=8
A byte on the wireThe rendered bits are sliced from the exact byte.One byte8 bits / 1 byte0x45byte 001000101first-octet01000101