Python: Working with the bin() Method (2024)

The bin() method is a built-in Python function that returns the binary representation of an integer. It takes an integer as an argument and returns a string containing the binary representation of the input number.

Here's the syntax for using the bin() method:

bin(x)

Where x is the integer you want to convert to binary.

Examples

Let's start with some examples of how to use the bin() method.

Example 1: Convert an Integer to Binary

x = 10binary = bin(x)print(binary)

This code will output:

0b1010

The output starts with 0b, which indicates that the following characters represent a binary value.

Example 2: Binary Representation of Negative Numbers

x = -10binary = bin(x)print(binary)

This code will output:

-0b1010

The output starts with a negative sign and 0b, which indicates that the following characters represent a binary value.

Note that when you pass a negative integer to bin(), it returns a string with a leading negative sign.

Example 3: Using 'lstrip' to Remove Leading Characters

If you want to remove the leading characters (-0b or 0b) from the binary string, you can use the lstrip() method:

x = 10binary = bin(x)stripped_binary = binary.lstrip('-0b')print(stripped_binary)

This code will output:

1010

Example 4: Using 'zfill' to Add Leading Zeros

If you want to pad the binary string with leading zeros, you can use the zfill() method:

x = 10binary = bin(x)[2:].zfill(8)print(binary)

This code will output:

00001010

The [2:] slice notation is used to remove the leading 0b. The zfill(8) method adds leading zeros to pad the string to a length of 8 characters.

Conclusion

The bin() method is a useful tool for converting integers to binary. You can use it to display binary values in your Python programs, and combine it with other string methods like lstrip() and zfill().

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