How to convert an int to a binary string representation in Java?

General Discussions
, ,
1

What is the simplest and most efficient way to convert an int to binary in Java? For example, if the integer is 156, its binary string representation should be “10011100”. What methods are available to achieve this?

2

Oh, this one’s pretty straightforward! From my experience, the simplest and most efficient way to convert an int to binary in Java is by using the built-in method Integer.toBinaryString(). It’s the quickest and most direct solution.

int number = 156;
String binary = Integer.toBinaryString(number);
System.out.println(binary);  // Output: "10011100"

This method is optimized in Java, so if you’re just looking for a fast conversion, it’s definitely the best option. No need to worry about custom logic or manual steps—just call the method, and you’re done! If you don’t need anything fancy, this is your go-to.

3

Totally agree with Rima! But, if you want a bit more control over the process, maybe you want to do a custom implementation for converting int to binary in Java. You could manually construct the binary string using bitwise operations. Here’s an example that uses a StringBuilder to optimize performance:

public static String toBinary(int num) {
    StringBuilder binary = new StringBuilder();
    while (num > 0) {
        binary.append(num % 2);
        num /= 2;
    }
    return binary.reverse().toString();
}

int number = 156;
System.out.println(toBinary(number));  // Output: "10011100"

This gives you more flexibility—let’s say you want to tweak the formatting or convert to another base in the future. Also, by using StringBuilder, you avoid the inefficiency of string concatenation in loops, which can be costly performance-wise. It’s a solid choice when you need more customization!

4

That’s a good point, Akansha! Another option I like is using the Integer.toString(number, 2) method. This approach is very flexible and efficient as well, offering the same binary conversion, but with the added benefit of being able to convert to other bases like hexadecimal (base 16) or octal (base 8) when needed.

int number = 156;
String binary = Integer.toString(number, 2);
System.out.println(binary);  // Output: "10011100"

So, if your project may involve more than just binary conversion in the future, this method is a great all-in-one solution. It’s clean, concise, and doesn’t require the extra handling of bitwise operations. For flexibility and reusability, it’s a solid choice, just like Integer.toBinaryString().