0o1042

0o1042 is an octal literal, used in languages that denote octal numbers with the 0o prefix (notably Python 3). The digits 1, 0, 4, and 2 are valid octal digits, so 0o1042 represents a base-8 integer rather than a decimal or hexadecimal one.

The value of 0o1042 in decimal is 546, computed as 1 × 8^3 + 0 × 8^2 + 4 × 8 + 2 = 512 + 0 + 32 + 2. In hexadecimal, this value is 0x222, and in binary it is 0b001000100010 (12 bits, aligning with the three-bit groups of octal digits). The equivalences are: 0o1042 = 546 = 0x222.

In programming, 0o1042 is primarily seen in contexts where octal literals are used, such as bitwise masks, permissions, or hardware-related values. In Python 3, writing a = 0o1042 assigns the integer 546 to a; attempting to use a leading zero without the 0o prefix, as in 01042, is invalid in Python 3. Octal notation provides a compact way to express certain values that align with three-bit groupings, reflecting its origin in early computing and Unix-style permission or mask representations.