# HEX

## Syntax

```
HEX(N_or_S)
```

## Description

If `N_or_S` is a number, returns a string representation of the hexadecimal value of `N`, where `N` is a `longlong` ([BIGINT](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/data-types/numeric-data-types/bigint)) number. This is equivalent to [CONV](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/numeric-functions/conv)(N,10,16).

If `N_or_S` is a string, returns a hexadecimal string representation of`N_or_S` where each byte of each character in `N_or_S` is converted to two hexadecimal digits. If `N_or_S` is `NULL`, returns `NULL`. The inverse of this operation is performed by the [UNHEX](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/string-functions/unhex)()\
function.

`HEX()` with an [INET6](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/inet6) argument returns a hexadecimal representation of the underlying 16-byte binary string.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT HEX(255);
+----------+
| HEX(255) |
+----------+
| FF       |
+----------+

SELECT 0x4D617269614442;
+------------------+
| 0x4D617269614442 |
+------------------+
| MariaDB          |
+------------------+

SELECT HEX('MariaDB');
+----------------+
| HEX('MariaDB') |
+----------------+
| 4D617269614442 |
+----------------+
```

```sql
SELECT HEX(CAST('2001:db8::ff00:42:8329' AS INET6));
+----------------------------------------------+
| HEX(CAST('2001:db8::ff00:42:8329' AS INET6)) |
+----------------------------------------------+
| 20010DB8000000000000FF0000428329             |
+----------------------------------------------+
```

## See Also

* [Hexadecimal literals](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/sql-language-structure/hexadecimal-literals)
* [UNHEX()](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/string-functions/unhex)
* [CONV()](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/numeric-functions/conv)
* [BIN()](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/string-functions/bin)
* [OCT()](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/numeric-functions/oct)

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}