Byte to Binary String C# - Display all 8 digits

Question

I want to display one byte in textbox. Now I'm using:

Convert.ToString(MyVeryOwnByte, 2);

But when byte is has 0's at begining those 0's are being cut. Example:

MyVeryOwnByte = 00001110 // Texbox shows -> 1110
MyVeryOwnByte = 01010101 // Texbox shows -> 1010101
MyVeryOwnByte = 00000000 // Texbox shows -> <Empty>
MyVeryOwnByte = 00000001 // Texbox shows -> 1

I want to display all 8 digits.

See: stackoverflow.com/questions/1644609/c-problem-with-byte and specifically stackoverflow.com/questions/1644609/c-problem-with-byte/… — Jeff Yates
– Jeff Yates, Commented Jan 28, 2011 at 14:39
As the code in this question has already been misunderstood by another user, it should be pointed out that MyVeryOwnByte is not actually a byte here, and that (if that is the actual C# code used) literals such as 01010101 are decimal numbers (that happen to consist of only zeroes and ones); the actual bits of the bytes making up those numbers look quite a bit different. — O. R. Mapper
– O. R. Mapper, Commented Apr 6, 2014 at 14:10
@Hooch: Ok, then only the author of the other question was possibly mistaken. — O. R. Mapper
– O. R. Mapper, Commented Apr 6, 2014 at 16:23
Does this answer your question? Convert an integer to a binary string with leading zeros — Jason C
– Jason C, Commented Jun 5, 2021 at 17:48

Jeff Yates · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-28 14:40:32Z

77

Convert.ToString(MyVeryOwnByte, 2).PadLeft(8, '0');

This will fill the empty space to the left with '0' for a total of 8 characters in the string

edited Jan 28, 2011 at 14:40

Jeff Yates

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answered Jan 28, 2011 at 14:37

WraithNath

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Comments

Gabe · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-28 16:32:32Z

13

How you do it depends on how you want your output to look.

If you just want "00011011", use a function like this:

static string Pad(byte b)
{
    return Convert.ToString(b, 2).PadLeft(8, '0');
}

If you want output like "00011011", use a function like this:

static string PadBold(byte b)
{
    string bin = Convert.ToString(b, 2);
    return new string('0', 8 - bin.Length) + "<b>" + bin + "</b>";
}

If you want output like "0001 1011", a function like this might be better:

static string PadNibble(byte b)
{
    return Int32.Parse(Convert.ToString(b, 2)).ToString("0000 0000");
}

edited Jan 28, 2011 at 16:32

answered Jan 28, 2011 at 14:39

Gabe

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4 Comments

Gabe Over a year ago

@Jeff: I posted this version because sometimes the new string() technique is useful. You didn't question Gregory's mention of PadRight, and that function doesn't even solve the problem.

Jeff Yates Over a year ago

How I reacted to someone else's response is entirely irrelevant. I just thought it strange to see you downplay your answer by referring to a better solution that you didn't give and that the suggestion you had was not particular easy to read. As SO is a resource for getting a good answer, you'd be better including the PadLeft solution entirely AND your alternative - you might well be the better answer then. This isn't about first, it's about best.

Gabe Over a year ago

@Jeff: I prefer a separate post for each answer so that one can easily browse answers without having to wade through duplicates. However, I have made an exception today, and just for you have put 3 answers into a single post.

THBBFT Over a year ago

The third answer was almost approximately what I was looking for. The pattern I needed was 00 00 00 00 ... i think i figured it out :)

Jeff Yates · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-28 14:42:03Z

1

Pad the string with zeros. In this case it is PadLeft(length, characterToPadWith). Very useful extension methods. PadRight() is another useful method.

edited Jan 28, 2011 at 14:42

Jeff Yates

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answered Jan 28, 2011 at 14:39

Gregory A Beamer

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2 Comments

Jeff Yates Over a year ago

PadRight is a useful method but not in this scenario. I recommend you remove that from your answer (or add every other useful .NET method - I know which I'd pick :D).

Gabe Over a year ago

Also, they're not extension methods.

Mariusz Jamro · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-06 08:22:23Z

0

You can create an extension method:

public static class ByteExtension
{
    public static string ToBitsString(this byte value)
    {
        return Convert.ToString(value, 2).PadLeft(8, '0');
    }
}

answered Sep 6, 2018 at 8:22

Mariusz Jamro

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