> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.internetobject.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.internetobject.org/structure-and-syntax/values/number/special-formats.md).

# Special Numeric Formats

Besides ordinary decimal, a number may be written in **hexadecimal**, **octal**, **binary**, or **scientific** notation. These are just different ways of writing the same numeric value — the parser reads them all into one number.

| Notation    | Prefix / form | Example      | Value |
| ----------- | ------------- | ------------ | ----- |
| Decimal     | *(none)*      | `255`        | 255   |
| Hexadecimal | `0x`          | `0xFF`       | 255   |
| Octal       | `0o`          | `0o377`      | 255   |
| Binary      | `0b`          | `0b11111111` | 255   |
| Scientific  | `e` exponent  | `2.55e2`     | 255   |

```ruby
dec: number, hex: number, oct: number, bin: number, sci: number
---
255, 0xFF, 0o377, 0b11111111, 2.55e2
```

All five fields above hold the value `255`.

## Notes

* A leading sign is allowed: `-0x1A`, `+1.5e3`.
* Notation is independent of the field's type — any number type accepts any notation as input.
* How a number is **written back** on serialization is controlled by the schema's `format` option (`decimal`, `hex`, `octal`, `binary`, `scientific`); see [Numeric Types](/schema-definition-language/data-types/number.md).
* For very large integers use [BigInt](/structure-and-syntax/values/number/bigint.md) (`123n`); for exact decimals use [Decimal](/structure-and-syntax/values/number/decimal.md) (`1.50m`).

## See Also

* [Number](/structure-and-syntax/values/number/number.md) · [BigInt](/structure-and-syntax/values/number/bigint.md) · [Decimal](/structure-and-syntax/values/number/decimal.md)
* [NaN and Infinity](/structure-and-syntax/values/number/nan-and-infinity.md)


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